Can anyone recommend a free firewall ?

[Polgara2]

That isn't Zonealarm or Comodo?

bump - anyone?

www.iopus.com/guides/freefirewalls.htm

Excellent thank you. I know that Zonealarm and comodo always come out on top of these type of lists but neither will work on my pc for various reasons unfortunately so I shall keep on searching.

I am never sure why people even bother with 3rd party filewalls... for the standard home user they do nothing above what the built in Microsoft one will do for you..

I am interested to know why you think you need a firewall application on your PC...

Also do you have a dsl router??... these too have firewalls in them

If you put ths kind of stuff on your PC for the wrong reason then all you are going to do is slow it down..

I don't have SP2 on my pc so don't have a windows firewall - or at least I didn't think I did - am I wrong? I don't have a wireless adsl router if that's what you mean, am still wired unfortunately.
How slow?

DS says:
A good antivirus + the standard windows (assuming you are running windows) firewall should do the trick; AVG Free is great.

Windows defender is pretty useful, lots of nice features.

Winpatrol looks for all new changes to your system, so if a program has made itself open at startup it asks you if you would like to allow it or not.

Hope this helps.

And to Polgara2, SP2 (service pack 2) does not remove the firewall; that would definately not improve things. SP2 is mainly designed to improve security, not make it worse!

Milliways - sorry I meant I have not got XP SP2 installed on my pc and I thought that the firewall came with SP2, not that it removed it.
I do have AVG already.

This is DS again (I know nothing!):

A firewall of some shape or form comes with all versions of windows; the more recent the version of windows, the better the protection. The firewall on SP1 is exactly the same as the one on SP2 (i think!), but having SP2 just increases security on your computer.

Sygate firewall works with AVG apparently according to my sister... you can download it free here

Right so have found instructions for enabling the ICF in SP1 - will check that in the morning (am on laptop at the mo) although things are rarely that straightforward on my pc so will not hold my breath! So as long as I do that and have AVG then that is sufficient?
I have actually got the comodo one to work but will remove if I don't need it AND it slows things down?
Thanks

Milliways.. your DS is spot on...

The Windows firewall, AV and some spyware tools are all you need....

Polgara2 - if you are not on SP2 for XP then I suggest you upgrade asap... it wont matter what protection you load on the PC your OS is so open and vunerable that it will catch all sorts or coughs and colds

I would like to but I can't!! Been having loads of probs with XP, had downloaded SP2 twice before - completely trashed PC each time so daren't ever try again. Now have done a repair which has fixed lots of other problems but it just won't download SP2 at all this time so am stuck without it I'm afraid!
Are you saying that even with a third party firewall I am still vulnerable with SP2?

You might be vulnerable, It depends on what your AV (anti virus) software is like. Yes, you are more vulnerable than without SP2, but you can live without it, just makes life a littler harder.

If your computer crashes when you install SP2:
-Do you have enough hard disk space?
(Right click on the C:\ volume, and view free space)
-Does your system meet the requirements?
(Not sure where the specs of SP2 are posted, possibly on the microsoft website. CPU-Z tells you all of your system specs, and can be downloaded here

Not sure what else to suggest.

How did SP2 trash the PC?

SP2 contained a bunch of enhancements to improve overall security, the forthcoming SP3 rolls in even more.

If you've got decent firewall and AV and most importantly, act sensibly, you'll probably be fine.

www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&DisplayLang=e n
is the link to the full SP2 download rather than the 'clever' installer that just tries to download the bits you need to update to SP2 - you'll almost certainly have more luck using this than the other version.

Might be worth waiting until SP3 comes out.

Like OD said - if you're using a router then they'll almost certainly be locked down tighter than the proverbial ducks arse - if the firewall on the router is dropping any packets that don't originate from inside the firewall then all you have to worry about securing is the PC. That's where proper AV solutions come in - preferably something that will integrate with whatever email client you use.

AVG gets loads of good reviews but if you want to be really safe go for something that's been properly certified and has proper research funding behind it but comes out around average for overall protection..

Don't know exactly what it did it just went dead as a dodo. Had to go to the hard drive hospital to get reformatted etc. And yes plenty of space on it. It was our only pc so was a little wary about trying again but now have laptop too which is why I am fiddling fixing things!
I will have a go via that link tomorrow when no one is likely to moan about not being able to use the computer!
Am trying to decide whether to keep on sorting and updating this pc or save up for a new desktop.

M$ have stopped providing security updates for pre SP2 system now..only the absolute critical ones will work... so the simple answer is 'yes' the longer you leave this the more and more vunerable you will become to spyware and other attacks on your system.

Time for a complete system rebuild me thinks.

Out of interest what was the exact issue that stops you going to SP2... this in itself can mean that you have residual virus information on your system or even spyware...

SP2 fixes so many issues on XP... also add some nice features and improves system performance by a long way...

I recommend a rebuild from scratch when you have a spare weekend