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A Personal Firewall, Who Needs One? March 27th, 2007

by: Charlie Le Ber
All members who have an Internet connection need a firewall, both dial and high speed included.

You can download it from Brighton Computer Club Software Page.

    What is a Personal Firewall?

  • It is software in your computer that allows the incoming and outgoing items that could be useful to you or blocks items that could be a problem.

    RULES: Installed in your computer you should have…

  • One Anti Virus program only,
  • Two+ Anti Spyware programs, and
  • One Personal Firewall only.
  • Any more than One Personal Firewall installed can give trouble.

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The Windows XP Firewall provides protection from incoming problems but no protection for outgoing problems.

  • You could have a program that, unknown to you, is sending personal data out to someone who can use it to your disadvantage.

      The Brighton Computer Club (BCC) Recomends

    • ZoneAlarm Version 7 is a free trusted Firewall, one of the first Firewalls, but it got too big. It is 39 MB in size compared to Sygate at 9 MB. ZoneAlarm Version 7 performs much better than Version 6.

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    • Sygate (old version) is free from BCC website or Club disk. There will be no more updates but Firewalls usually do not need updates. There is a new version that you can buy from Symantec.

    • Which Firewall should you install?
    • First try Sygate.
    • If you are not satisfied, try ZoneAlarm Version7.
    • If still not happy go back to your Windows XP Firewall.

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      How to install, configure & test a personal Firewall on your computer.

    • The first thing to do is to turn off Windows XP firewall.
        Click on Start
      • Click on Control Panel
      • Click on Security Center.
      • Scroll down to and click on Windows Firewall.
      • Click in the circle beside Off (not recommended).

      • Click OK.
      • Go to the Software section on our website and click on “Sygate”.

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      • Click on Our BCC Website….

      • Choose Save

      • Download and Save it to a folder where you can find it.
      • Find “spf.exe” and double click it.
      • Follow the instructions and turn off any programs running in the lower right of your screen by right clicking on them and choosing exit or stop.
      • Anti-virus programs must be stopped for installs.

      • When the install is finished you should have an Icon in the lower right of your screen.

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      • Windows will want to have an outgoing request. It may look like this

      • You may click 1 and then 2.
      • Right after you install Sygate there will be some requests for you to handle.
      • Here is one you should say no to.

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      • You should now force all your programs to update so the firewall can have your decisions stored.
      • Double click on AVG icon in lower right of screen and click on Update.
      • Sygate will ask you if AVG can access the internet.
      • As above click on Remember my answer and click on Yes.
      • If AVG comes again to ask for permission, answer the same way.
      • For programs that you trust, IE7, AdAware, Sybot and any other programs you update and trust answer the same way.
      • If you get a request that you are unsure of, answer no but leave Remember my answer unchecked.
      • If your computer operates normally, the next time that request comes up, answer No and Remember my answer.
      • Double click on the Sygate Icon and then click on Applications

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      • You should see

      • The check marks indicate that you have given permission for the program to go through the firewall.

      • Boxes with ? means Sygate will ask you what to do.
      • Boxes with X will be blocked. You may change the decision by right clicking on an application listed here and making a different choice.
      • To test your firewall for leaks, (allowing an application to get out of your computer without your knowledge) you can go to this website.

      • Click here

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      • Save the Leak Test

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      • Find the leak Test and double click on it.

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      • You get this

      • and click on Test for Leaks. You will get this

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      • You should get this

      • Now you have tested your firewall and can be assured that you have taken another good step in protecting your personal information.

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      Charlie Le Ber