firewall for grandparents?

Discussion in 'other firewalls' started by firzen771, Dec 8, 2007.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. firzen771

    firzen771 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2007
    Posts:
    4,815
    Location:
    Canada
    im looking for a decent firewall for my grandparents, they do not have a router, a firewall that has VERY few pop-ups, a set it and forget it firewall. and it needs to be free, btw they have Windows XP
     
  2. Beavenburt

    Beavenburt Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2006
    Posts:
    566
    Windows FW. The simplest and quietest of them all.
     
  3. firzen771

    firzen771 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2007
    Posts:
    4,815
    Location:
    Canada
    yeh thats what i was thinking of, but does windows firewall stealth ports?
     
  4. Beavenburt

    Beavenburt Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2006
    Posts:
    566
    Yes it does.
     
  5. firzen771

    firzen771 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2007
    Posts:
    4,815
    Location:
    Canada
    hmm, i see...
     
  6. Beavenburt

    Beavenburt Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2006
    Posts:
    566
    I'm sure it stealths "out of the box" so to speak. Combine it with avast or AVG and that'll do them. I'm sure your grandparents won't be downloading cracks and hardcore.
     
  7. Perman

    Perman Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2005
    Posts:
    2,161
    Hi,

    For your grandparents?

    So, let me guess, they are in late 60 or early 70s ?

    If so, then may I suggest Comodo firewall v.3 minus defense +

    This fw with such configuration would only alert new network connection.
    I have suggest it to my neighbour, Mr.X, who is in early 70s.

    More of Comodo v.3 can be found in this forum. Good luck.

    Take care, and be a good grandchild.
     
  8. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2002
    Posts:
    8,102
    Location:
    Hawaii
    I heartily recommend Ghostwall. It equates to Windows firewall but is FAR easier to configure and understand. Free, of course.
     
  9. Hairy Coo

    Hairy Coo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2007
    Posts:
    1,486
    Location:
    Northern Beaches
    Zone Alarm Free or OA.

    Edit; or Filesclab
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2007
  10. firzen771

    firzen771 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2007
    Posts:
    4,815
    Location:
    Canada
    does ghostwall give a lot of pop-ups?
     
  11. WSFuser

    WSFuser Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2004
    Posts:
    10,639
    Actually it has zero popups.
     
  12. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2007
    Posts:
    989
    Location:
    127.0.0.1
    I would put them behind a router. At least NAT their IP.
     
  13. strangequark

    strangequark Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2005
    Posts:
    296
    Location:
    OZ
    speaking for other grandparents out there .... WE'RE NOT DEAD YET :D
    I get emails from my son and grandson asking where to get cracks or cracked programs for this, that or the other thing ............. of course I have no idea what their talking about :p ........... but just out of sheer luck I can usually point them in the right direction. Which leads me to ask, what's wrong with the youth of today :rolleyes:

    as for a firewall, ZA free is reasonably easy on the not so computer savvy if you turn off the alerts.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2007
  14. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2007
    Posts:
    989
    Location:
    127.0.0.1
    I'm a grandparent and have used a number of firewalls. Right now I'm running ZoneAlarm AntiVirus under Vista Home Premium. It has practically all the features of ZoneAlarmSecurity Suite under Vista. Under XP, ZASS has more features.
     
  15. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2004
    Posts:
    8,013
    I would just turn on the Windows Firewall and use that, you won't get any popups that way. Or if they can tolerate a few initial popups for commonly used apps, then ZA Free would be fine also. It's pretty low maintenance...
     
  16. Vettetech

    Vettetech Former Poster

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    339
    OA free is very easy. No pop ups if you put it in learn mode for a couple of days. My cousin is very dumb about pc's and he understood it. ZA is also good for newbies. Windows firewall is really bad. If your talking XP that is.
     
  17. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2004
    Posts:
    8,013
    Win Firewall is fine if you're just looking for something to block inbound and don't expect it to check outbound, which it doesn't. It's quiet in that respect, which is what some people want...
     
  18. Vettetech

    Vettetech Former Poster

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    339
  19. Dogbiscuit

    Dogbiscuit Guest

    Good advice. :thumb:
     
  20. Hairy Coo

    Hairy Coo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2007
    Posts:
    1,486
    Location:
    Northern Beaches
    Once again you are concentrating on leaktests.

    Here is what Matousec themselves say;

    "It should be noted that leak-tests probe only a few features of personal firewalls. If a firewall passes all leak-tests it does not mean it is perfect, bug free or secure in other aspects! However, if a personal firewall fails most of leak-testing techniques, it means that it is insecure. This does not hold for packet filters! ".


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
  21. Coolio10

    Coolio10 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2006
    Posts:
    1,124
    If windows firewall got 100% he wouldn't use it as an example would he? :D

    OA has to look good somehow eh?
     
  22. Vettetech

    Vettetech Former Poster

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    339
    So I guess what your saying is review companies are worthless. So if Consumer Reports does a review on cars and says that car "a" is bad. The first thing you would do was go buy car "a". Man you need to open your eyes. OK back to the post. My mother bought a pc and I set her up with NOD32 and Online Armor cause I want her safe. I also installed Firefox and told her to do a scan once a week with SuperAntiSpyware. So do you let your friends drive drunk also?

    This is meant for = Hairy Coo
     
  23. Vettetech

    Vettetech Former Poster

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    339

    Thanks Coolio. Hows the weather in Canada ?
     
  24. solcroft

    solcroft Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2006
    Posts:
    1,639
    And you need to open yours and actually see WHY the review rated that car "a" is bad. In fact, it's a review that rates cars solely on their horsepower, when you're actually looking for a car with best fuel economy. It's good to see there're still people like Hairy Coo who know to use their brains.

    Another vote for Windows Firewall, or a router. It's what I use myself, and hasn't let me down yet.
     
  25. Vettetech

    Vettetech Former Poster

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Posts:
    339
    Have you ever read the Consumer Reports? They rate cars,dishwashers,vacums, everything. They dont rate cars based on hp. They base them on reliability. How many times has the car been in the shop, stuff like that. So go fly a kite. If you know what one is. Matousec is a very trust review site.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.