Firewalls, Firewalls & More Firewalls
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When the subject of firewalls comes up I usually cringe. This topic is akin to discussing which is better, AMD or Intel or Windows vs Apple? We all have our personal favorites and I try to steer clear of the zealots and fanboys who love to profess their preferences.
Over the years I have tried many different types of firewalls with mixed results. I have found that the firewall software seems to work OK for a few weeks, maybe a few months, than somewhere along the way it decides to go bonkers and misfire. What is most annoying are the ones that no matter how many times you tell the darn software to let something thru, it still wants to ask again and again if I am sure. My response. Uninstall the POS.
So last week in an article if which I was describing a squabble about a certain firewall product, I received a comment from Marc aka the oracle who also writes here at LG. He mention an older firewall product called Sygate which was boguht by some company [Symantec] and is still available. Though the product is now about 4 years old it is still available for download. I had forgotten about Sygate but Marc’s comment jogged my memory. I recalled that the freebie did a good job and the best part was that it was not annoying nor was it a performance killer.
So I did a Google, found an old copy of Sygate freebie and have been using it for about 5 days or so. My opinion. It is simple to use, easy on performance and the most important thing is that it has not irritated me yet with nag screens. So far so good. 
Is this software right for you? Maybe, maybe not. You decide.
Comments welcome.
Free copy is here.
[tags]sygate, firewall, protection, free, easy to use, [/tags]
9 Comments
Utnnyan
January 30th, 2008
at 11:08am
Sygate was pretty decent when I tried it but the fact that it is so old is a security risk in my mind. I’m currently using Online Armor for all my non-Vista PCs (they do not have a Vista Version) and Commodo for Vista.
Ron Schenone
January 30th, 2008
at 12:20pm
Hi Utnnyan,
Interesting aspect about being a security risk. I’ll do some checking on that.
Thanks, Ron
Don Naphen
January 31st, 2008
at 7:00am
Ron, I just d/loaded the freebie, but had concern that, since it didn’t list Vista as one of the OS’s it was compatible with, I hesitate to install it. Also, I’m running a ZoneAlarm (Check Point) router with an excellent hardware firewall, and ponder any advantage to running a software firewall that “may” have conflict issues.
BTW … still running AVG AV (free version) and it’s been a marvelous addition to my overall security setup. I just hope the Patriot’s defense does as good a job come Sunday! LOL
Ron Schenone
January 31st, 2008
at 7:12am
Hi Don,
Don’t use Sygate on Vista.
I doubt you will see much benefit using a software firewall with your router, though some may disagree.
Vista’s own firewall blocks outbound and inbound traffic. I’d just use that.
I don’t believe the Pats will have much problem this weekend. I just hope it is not a blow out.
Have a good one, Ron
JuMz
January 31st, 2008
at 9:02am
Thanks for the tip. Will check it out!
Zenium Tech
January 31st, 2008
at 8:04pm
Hi Ron.
I’ve been using agnitum outpost www.agnitum.com) for over 5 years nows. Like sysgate, outpost is low on resources and not too annoying (OK the pop-ups for dll’s that changed can be annoying) and it is easy to configure. Unlike sysgate, outpost is kept up to date.
One thing I like about outpost, it is easy to configure to for allowing openvpn SSL access to a company network. Sunbelt Kerio personal firewall could never work; get the settings right and the next time they failed. McAfee had a hidden problem with auto port allocation, but eventually worked after 4 days of investigations.
Ron Schenone
February 1st, 2008
at 7:05am
Hello Zenium Tech,
Thanks for the info. It is appreciated.
Ron
Wayne
February 3rd, 2008
at 3:54pm
I’ve used Sygate and it work’s pretty good, But know I use Comodo Firewall I like it better than any that I have used.
Wayne
February 3rd, 2008
at 3:56pm
Comodo Firewall #1