If you are using Windows XP or Windows Vista, there is nothing
wrong with the built in firewall that can’t be reconfigured. You also won’t
be fighting with the quirks that the built in product (even when disabled) sometimes
causes with 3rd party software. Zone Alarm is great, but users have
to be trained to use it properly or there isn’t any real point in paying
for it. The same is true of several other firewall software products I’ve
checked out.
Here is a link to a quick setup for Vista’s firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/firewall.mspx
Here is a decent guide to XP’s firewall settings.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
The main thing is to have your antivirus product(s)
auto-patching and train your users not to go to stupid places. If people keep
going to dangerous web sites, log the time you have to spend fixing their mess
the 2nd time and forward that information to their boss. The sites
they go to and the logs of that are private, but the time you have to spend
fixing things isn’t.
Don Bosman
Information
Technologist
Libraries,
Michigan State University
100 Library
East Lansing, MI 48824-1048
[log in to unmask]
(517) 432-6123 ext 233
Fax (517) 432-8374
From: MSU Network
Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott
Cassaday
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 3:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MSUNAG] Software Firewalls
I
have several computers that I would like to install software firewalls on. I
was wondering if anyone knew of any good ones or could recommend for or against
either zone alarm or Norton internet security.
Thanks
Scott
Cassaday
Information Technologist
Instructional Media Center
Michigan State University
517-432-8193
[log in to unmask]