Rune Central

I have a friend that I need to install a good, reliable firewall (Zone Alarm is buggy as hell and I dumped it a while back).

I went to download.com and discovered that it isn't there anymore.

After doing some Googling I found this ...

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2005N ... 033532.htm

Apparently Symantec, the makers of Norton -- who by the way not only have the worst anti-virus but the worst firewall too -- purchased Sygate a while back and, since Norton sucks, didn't want people downloading a great working free firewall (or even the Pro version).

Zone Alarm has caused "blue screens" (severe error messages) on my computer (which isn't very far from factory defaults because I don't install anything on it), has had memory conflicts on different computers and malfunctions frequently (no icon, but it's there blocking everything).

Norton is the perfect example of a company coasting on name and past reputation and size. They truly make some heinously un-user friendly crapola.

Fortunately, I save all my downloads I never trust companies to not f things up ... it's served me well

I have the last DL of SPF and I agree totally with how you feel. I helped out on a AntiVirus forum and I've seen that Norton is the cure being worst than the disease. It's absolute bloatware crap now while SPF was one of the last good FREE firewalls. I wouldn't ever deal with ZA or Norton for a firewall. If I had to pay for a firewall I would definitely go with Black Ice.

install Linux and you won't have to bitch about how bad WINDOWS anti-virus software are

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I don't use anti-virus

so what is the best option now for a free firewall? and if we've already got Sygate, how long can we keep using it safely for, ie if the updates are going to stop?

also, what is best free antivirus? ive got avast; it seems thorough, (though it uses 18 mb of ram) but im pretty ignorant on these issues besides advice i take from knowledgeable people

windows is setup so features can be toggled that could easily mess up your system. If you're sticking with the deadweight then just get an anti-virus that updates regularly. If you have a firewall configured correctly, then your biggest threat to getting a virus you downloading random shit off the internet

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I use AntiVir. It's works great on my old system. I use to use Sygate but it would kinda do its own thing which I didn't like. And also for people who aren't really technical it can be confusing with all its options and shit.

AVG is a damn good free Antivirus. Simple to use like AntiVir.

http://www.free-av.com/

toggling? snipez you just admitted to toggling!!!!!!! ban him!

ban me from windows? good luck on that

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