I have been using Windows Firewall, XP Pro SP2, along with NOD32, Prevx 2, Sandboxie and SpywareBlaster.
I Want to know if there is a firewall compatible with this security array and will complement it. It must have a small RAMprint. I am behind a Linksys router.

Check these out -
OnLineArmor (free and paid)
Kerio 2.1.5 (free) the tiniest of the bunch, something like 5meg tops
NVeda Safety.Net (free)
These 3 work well with NOD32 previous version, I think it's 2.7
BTW over here and at Wilders they list more (plus details how to make rules), but they don't specify the size.

I checked all, but decided to try Online Armor Free. So far seems to work well with NOD32 ver. 3.0.563.0, Prevx 2.0, Sandboxie 3.20, and SpywareBlaster 3.5.1. OA Free ranks number one at matousec.com on leaktests, so I assume that the paid does too. I have the feeling that the paid might conflict with what I have. The free will do for me. So far, good. Thanks.

Your real compatibility problems will be with running two different firewalls at the same time. Disable Windows's firewall before launching any other firewall.
Regards,
John

Thank you. I know that, but I did begin to install Online Armor without turning off Windows Firewall. I caught it though. I cancelled the install, turned off Windows Firewall, then proceeded. Perhaps Microsoft could put an icon in the tray to remind folk that the Windows Firewall is on. Not running two firewalls on the desktop, not running two antiviruses are basic, but need to be constantly repeated. I constantly tell folk this.

My configuration is complete, minus Prevx2. I got in a little dispute with them.

tos226, I installed Online Armor Free. I like it, but I won a license for Eset Smart Security; so I decided to go with it. NOD32 was effective, small RAMprint; ESS has a small RAMprint too. Even though Online Armor passed all leaktests, that is not the only reason to choose a firewall. ESS was not tested. I decided to download all the leaktests to try against ESS, but the zip with them was blocked Eset Smart Security. I figure that if it can't get in, it can't call out to its parent site. Since I installed ESS my system runs faster, perkier.

I formerly used Prevx2 along with Online Armor, NOD32, and Sandboxie. I now use ESS and Sandboxie (also have PGP, and I include encryption with security apps.) and feel just as secure. But you know the threats evolve and the security apps play catchup, which is why I like the heuistic and intrusion detection features in ESS.

I hadn't won anything in four decades. I was looking for a free solution 'cause I'm poor, so this win came at an opportune time.

My realtime protection against spyware, viruses, and other malware is Eset Smart Security, browser protection, in IE 7 is Sandboxie which prevents writes to my system, and ESS against suspicious and malware downloads, other than the ondemand anti-spyware, antiTrojan, and anti-rootkit scanners, I believe that this will suffice for now. But the threats evolve; spyware, Trojans, and rootkits are used by criminal organizations now.

I have an active license for AVG Anti-Spyware, and feel this neurotic compulsion to install it; although I know deep within that two realtime anti-spyware programs may be just as bad as two realtime antiviruses.

What are your thoughts?

WOW! what a cool win!
I haven't used eset security so no idea about their firewall. Just NOD32. I tried NOD32 v3 and it was very fine, but there are still some bugs, so I'll wait before updating.

Anyway, do you need extra anti-spyware?
I don't know. I wouldn't bother. If you've locked down IE7 and use Sandboxie (I don't know Sandboxie), probably no need. If it's bad spyware that'll try calling out, a firewall or NOD/eset should catcch it, shouldn't it?
I'd scan ocassionally with free a-squared and then SuperAntiSpyware but that's all.
I've read here that >1 antispyware is usually ok and I believe it. Still I wouldn't bother.

OnLine Armor was nice, but there was something I didn't like there. Don't recall what

Leaktests are a mixed bag in my opinion. Educational, yes, very, alert me to holes. Realistic? I wonder ...

Yeah, eset won't let you download or unzip some of those leaktests. And most are killed when you run'm. But what if ... remember, something like PCFLANK will hijack IE over a normal port 80. Yes, malware evolves, and we gotta be careful, always. I'd be looking into a host protection with something like System Safety Monitor or whatever eset has in their system.

Ever thought of switching out of IE7 into Firefox or Opera and a mvps HOSTS file instead of antispyware ideas?

I'm green with envy over the eset win. Great outfit, very responsive to customers, tight small footprints and effective at that, at least NOD32 is. Actually AntiVir is a winner as well when I think about it. I use it on another computer. It's free.

End of assorted rambling I didn't answer your questions, did I? I don't know the answers

Sandboxie

Check out Sandboxie. It is probably why I only need Eset Smart Security and Sandboxie to guard the attack vector through my browser. Mozilla Firefox (with NoScript, Cookie Safe, Cookie Culler, KeyScrambler, Download Statusbar, McAfee SiteAdvisor, and Web Developer as security extensions.) is my default browser. I only use IE 7 for my three Microsoft home pages, Live Blog, MSN pages, and Hotmail - and, of course, Windows Update. I only run unsandboxed browsers to site that I know personally are safe.

I've decided not to install a realtime antispyware; the ondemand scanners will suffice. I don't expect that they will find any malware, they will reassure me. I have more rootkit detectors among my ondemand scanners, IceSword, Panda, and RootkitRevealer; two antispyware, ewido micro-scanner, which detects Trojans and other malware, and SpywareBlaster (not really a scanner; it sets killbits which prevent spyware from embedding themselves in. I also have Trojan Remover; it is ondemand and can be set to do a quick scan at logon. I guess PGP Desktop Mail could be called a security app. It is DOD quality encryption. I keep my passwords in Password Safe, so only have to remember one password. KeyScrambler for IE 7 and Firefox encrypts from keyboard to forms all passwords.

I put all this out with the hope that someone will find a weakness.

Eset Smart Security flunks Gibson's leak test. I have heard told that it flunks the PCFlank leak test too. I tried downloading leaktests from http://www.firewallleaktester.com/leaktest7.htm
and these were caught by ESS and quarantined. It was the antivirus that caught them during download. I am not sure how to take this. I wonder if Online Armor and NOD32 might be a better combo. I am going to check Eset site to see if they discuss leaktests.

Regarding leaktests. In ESS you can probably set things up more tightly. I'm not surprised that the AV section caught it (it's NOD, isn't it?). Firewall protects communication. AV and/or host protection systems can watch the system and part of eset's suite is, I think, system protection.

An interesting point of view here:
http://forums.zonelab.com/zonelabs/board/m...essage.id=17197

And another (do see the 5/13 posts as well)
http://forums.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/...essage.id=17947
where more logic and additional protection methods are described

Consider adding free Antihook (infoprocess.com). I have it running on one computer with a firewall + Antihook + NOD32, and PCFlank has no chance, nor do most of the others, so long as I don't answer YES to 'do you want to permit such and such from hooking IE or running DLL or otherwise invading the integrity of your computer' type of question. And so long as I don't allow the firewall to make that new connection. If I do permit, well, then it's damage control time, but AV will normally see it before me.

Thanks for your links to Sandboxie. Interesting product