My Mcafee Subscription ran out from when I bought my new computer, and I needed to find a firewall that was Windows Vista Compatable.........Big Job!!

I was browsing the forum looking for a Vista Compatable Firewall, and I think I found one that is windows Vista Compatable...... "It's PCTools Firewall Plus". At least for the 32-bit version. One of you members pointed this firewall out....THANK YOU... I can't remember who?

My question is this. I read somewhere in some instructions that when you download a new firewall, that while you are downloading it, you should turn OFF any other Firewall during the download. This Kind of bothers Me.......Is this the Proper way to do it? Am I putting myself at any major risk if I do this?

If just scares me to think of going unprotected for any amount of time. If that is the way then so be it!!!

Any suggestions or knowledge anyone would care to share will be appreciated!

Hello,

Apparently ZoneAlarm will be launching a compatible version for Vista tommorow, (June 14th).

Here is a link discussing it:

http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9729126-12.html?tag=head ://http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4...html?tag=head

With the issues that I've had and read about for Zone Alarm with XP, I'd wait to see how well it does with Vista. Comodo is supposed to be releasing a Vista firewall also. There is also a Vista Firewall Control tool available here that other members have mentioned: http://www.sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html

DON'T disable your firewall when downloading!!! There is no difference between downloading the setup package for a firewall and any other setup package. Just don't have 2 firewalls running at the same time.

ZoneAlarm Pro is the best commercial firewall on the market and Comodo Firewall is the best Freeware firewall....IMO

I'm glad that ZA is finally coming out with a Vista compatible firewall - my subscription expires in 16 days so this is perfect timing. Note that ZA mistakenly issued a notice on their website on May 31.07 that ZA 7.1 for Vista was available and I posted a link about it here:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic94253.html

This was a mistake on ZA's part and they removed the notice the next day.

If you plan to go with ZA, the great thing about it is that you can use it "out-of-the-box" which means you shouldn't have to alter any settings. Make sure you select "automatic treatment" when you install and if you have a home network, put it in the Trusted Zone so you can share files with other computers in your household. ZA is a little aggressive at first, it will ask you everything. For example, if you do an update to Firefox from 2.0.0.3. and go to 2.0.0.4 and then access it, Zonealarm will tell you that the program has "changed" (from 0.3 to 0.4) and ask you if it can access the internet. Better safe than sorry.

I can't comment on the Comodo firewall but I've read very good things about it.

Happy security huntin'

I'm not necessarily endorsing it,

but one Firewall package that works in Vista is PC Tools Free Firewall .


I've been running it on a Vista Premium system and it seems OK.

I believe I mentioned it in another thread, glad to hear it's working for you, BalRocket.



Don't know where that "turn off your firewall while downloading a firewall" advice came from, but it doesn't make sense.

Sometimes, though, you can actually install or run a program from a website, in which case you are both downloading and installing it immediately thereafter. I can see where this could cause a problem if the new program would conflict with an existing one that you would normally disable or uninstall before you install the new program.

Especially in matters regarding your PCs security, I would always recommend you download and save the file, and install it later once you've got your system properly prepared for the install.

Thanks USASMA , for answering my question on whether to turn off my firewall when downloading another firewall, I didn't think that sounded right!!

I have used Zone Alarm for years when I was running XP, and I Loved it!!!!! But like I said it's not Vista Compatable Yet. Now I know that it will be soon!

Like I said in my post I had Found the PCTools Free Firewall Plus, for the 32-bit version and will probably use it until ZA releases their Vista Package.

Thanks to everyone who posted for all the help...........I love this forum, and the great people in it!!!!

AND THANKS TO JOHNWHO, for the previous post on another thread to send me looking at the PCTools Free Firewall!!