SP2 firewall vs. Zone Alarm

[EJC]

For the past couple of years, I've been using Zone Alarm and have been happy with it. However, lately it seems like Zone Alarm blocks some websites from being loaded quickly (probably the ad links from banners)

Someone claiming to be an IT expert on Orangebloods says that the Service Pack 2's firewall is just as good and it doesn't annoy you as much with asking permission to allow/block access like ZA does.

True? SP2 firewall a good one to use? Less hassel?

 

[Rusk]

SP2 firewall is decent, but not that strong.

It will block incoming things and ask you about it, but it doesn't check anything outgoing. So if you already have some kind of spyware on your machine that sends info out to the net, it won't help you.

At least I read that someplace.

 

[idigTexas]

Here's a pretty decent discussion on this very topic.

The Link

 

[goofybevo]

Also, a hardware firewall is much more effective thatn a software. I run both. If you're running through a router, you probably already have one.

 

[schnarkle]

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[dustin_c1]

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[goofybevo]

OK, ZA is much more effective for blocking outgoing traffic, but not for blocking attempts to break in. Not that most people have to worry about it, but still. That's why I run both.

 

[MrPhlegm]

one thing about running a harware firewall in your router for instance, is that it takes some of the load off of your software firewall, thus freeing cycles for something else to use. I could tell a difference when I put a router in between my computer and cable modem. Of course I am running a clunky old 866mh Win Me machine.

 

[idigTexas]

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