I’ve just reformatted my hard drive and have reinstalled Windows XP home. I’ve got AVG anti-virus, and a couple anti-spyware programs. We’re going to get DSL service in the next week or so, and I’d like to get a wireless router for a home wireless network. Now I’m looking to install a free firewall that will work with the wireless router. I was all set to download ZoneAlarm, but read one review on the Downloads.com site that said “If you have DSL and intend to go to a wireless network, forget it. Zone Alarm will continually disable your internet connection without any alarms or hint as to what it’s doing. Spent 2 weeks troubleshooting the connection, router, modem and the like. As Zone Alarm had worked flawlessly before the router, it was the last item I suspected. Took out the router and all was good again. Switched firewall App to doublecheck and router works fine.”
Anyone have any personal experience with this? Did this guy just fail to set something up correctly, or does the porgram have dificulties with wireless hardware? Any help would… well, help. Thanks a ton.
I have XP Home and Zone Alarm on my laptop, which also has built-in wireless capability. I have a cable modem and wireless router at home. Never had any problems with Zone Alarm and the wireless network. (I also connect to wireless network at my university. Again, no problems, no conflicts for me).
I’ve used both ZoneAlarm and Sygate Personal Firewall (also free) and my preference is Sygate, simply because it’s easy to configure and easy to see what it’s doing, but I understand ZoneAlarm is a good product.
I was rather unimpressed by McAffee’s offering (which is not free) - one of the people I support bought and installed it on his own laptop - certain bits of software/hardware just don’t work at all if you try to install them while the firewall is up - you have to turn off the firewall (which means either disconnecting from the network or leaving yourself vulnerable, install the item, turn McAffee back on, whereupon it detects the new item and asks you questions about whether to let it talk. Sygate Personal firewall does all this with the firewall still active.
AFAIK, the firewall doesn’t care if the connection comes in over the airwaves or over a wire.
The quality of reviews and competence of reviewer is not known.
I’ve seen some that quite clearly blamed the product for user error.
I’ve just installed Sygate on a comp w/ a wireless connection. So far everything’s peachy.
I really don’t think that the firewall can tell if the connection is wired or not.