# Best free firewall/anti-hacking software **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443 "2004-04-11T11:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/1 "2004-04-11T11:11:12Z")
As the title suggests, I was wondering where I could find free software good at keeping out hackers and other ne’er-do-wells. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/2 "2004-04-11T14:10:06Z")
Well the most known is [Zone Alarm](http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp), they offer a free version that works pretty good. There is also [Sygate](http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm) which is similar to Zone Alarm. [This](http://www.free-firewall.org/) page lists a couple of more. ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/3 "2004-04-11T15:48:00Z")
Thanks for the timely thread, **Mr. K**. And the timely response as well, **Toddly**. I’ve been thinking I should set-up a firewall, but I’ve been to lazy to look in to it. This thread motivated me; I just installed ZoneAlarm (only the freebie version thus far). Its’ only been 10 minutes, but I’m pleased with it so far. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/4 "2004-04-11T17:45:03Z")
I’ll definitely second ZoneAlarm. It works. It’s free. Once you’ve installed everything, you can test your PCs vulnerability using [Shiels Up](http://www.google.com/search?q=shields+up&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/5 "2004-04-11T17:58:48Z")
Agnitum Outpost v1 is also free. [http://www.agnitum.com/download/outpost1.html](http://www.agnitum.com/download/outpost1.html) I use it because there’s a free plugin for it called BlockPost where you can set up a list of IPs to be completely blocked. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/6 "2004-04-11T18:58:41Z")
I’ve used the free version of Zone Alarm for a couple of years. I don’t see anything compelling in the paid version so I’ve never bought it. I use Google Toolbar to block pop-up ads. Spybot Search & Destroy and AdAware are good for checking for spyware/adware. Also, I run Norton Anti-Virus software. Finally, you should make sure to keep all of these program up-to-date (particularly the antivirus and antispyware software). Except for Norton, all of these programs are free, and there are freeware antivirus programs as well. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/7 "2004-04-11T19:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > …and there are freeware antivirus programs as well. I use [AntiVir](http://www.free-av.com/) and it works for me. I put [avast!](http://www.avast.com/) on another machine and it works nicely as well, although the occasional pirate lingo (i.e. “jollyroger” appearing in an auto-update URL) seems very virus-_like_ instead of anti-virus. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-firewall-anti-hacking-software/239443/8 "2004-04-12T00:20:28Z")
Among the best for PCs: FreeBSD, Linux. When used as intended, you’ll be pretty close to immue to viruses, trojans, and spyware, and pretty nicely insulated from hacking exploits as well. 😉 Among the best for non-PCs: Having them, instead of a PC. Macs are excellent alternatives.