Well, I use kerio personal firewall and really like it because

a) it's free

it's small and doesn't take over your system

c) it's dead simple and easy to use with no "let me tell you what I think is going on". It just says x application is trying to do y.

In other words, it's my favourite.

However, my old man uses it on his laptop or rather used it. It has been uninstalled because it doesn't allow standy and hibernate. I guess the low level nic stack driver just doesn't allow it to "shutdown" for standy and hibernate.

So, can anyone recommend a simple firewall that tries to fit the three points above but that doesn't inhibit the use of standby and hibernate?

I'd like to stay away from Norton, McAfee or network associates or whatever they're called 'cos I've always seen them as ressource hoggers. I don't want an app to get it's sticky fingers on anything and everything it thinks worthwhile if you get my drift.

Cheers

BTW, on the subject of Kerio, anyone know exactly what happened? Used to be a company called Tiny Software, or rather there still is a company called www.tinysoftware.com And then there's Kerio (www.kerio.com). Both offer IDENTICAL software, just with a different badge. And can't seem to find any mention on their sites wrt the existance of the other :confused:

Kerio is still going. They used to use the same engine I belive, but have stopped. You can still get a version that lots like, but I believe its a rule based firewall, I think its version 2.15. The current versions are quite heavy on resources version 4 I think.

I use Sygate personal. Its free and relatively light, and if set to ask, nothing connects without asking for permission. I am not sure if it works in hibernation though,but if you visit their support forums..http://forums.sygate.com/vb/..

there will be someone who will be able to tell you.

Of course the lightest of firewall I know is Look n Stop but it isnt free, but to be honest I suspect Sygate will be perfect for you.

I use ZoneAlarm Pro - very easy to use and you can customize it to just run without telling you everything that it is doing

http://www.solutionsreview.com/zonealarmpro.asp

Always found Zone Alarm to very heavy resource wise..and thats on a desktop. It is also a right git to completely uninstal.

Cheers Andy and Mark. Will give it a go

I'm using Tiny Personal Firewall 2. Although not updated since 2001 it does the job wonderfully well.

Another vote for ZoneAlarm. Used the Pro version for two years, now I'm just using the free one (sitting behind hardware firewall as well).

Never found it's resource usage any worse than Norton (a true pig to use, let alone uninstall!!) but frequently better than it. (my system rarely uses more than 10% resources even with ZA, McAfee Vscan plus assorted other apps)

The being wi-fi though, the "activity/traffic" meter can sometimes give me a shock with it's movement.......

I'm using Tiny Personal Firewall 2. Although not updated since 2001 it does the job wonderfully well.

Q, that's my point with the first post.

Tiny Personal Firewall 2 is identical to Kerio Personal Firewall 2 But alas doesn't work in hibernation. Or does it on your laptop? :confused:

And if you can tell me what the differences are between the two companies, I'd be most impressed

Black ice the best in firewall protection i have acquired a copy if u would like to try it lol

Tiny Personal Firewall 2 is identical[/b'] to Kerio Personal Firewall 2 But alas doesn't work in hibernation. Or does it on your laptop? :confused:

Never heared of Kerio, so can't pass comment on that. And I only use it on my desktop (especially since I've sold the lappy ), as that is where my better half and offspring have access too... I trust myself to not do anything stupid, but them two... .

I use Sygate Personal Firewall. I find it to be very useful and not much of a resource hogger.

I use ZoneAlarm Pro on my laptop and the free version on my desktop at home. I've noticed that it's not too resource hungry on my laptop, but on my desktop (running P2P software) it does consume a lot of memory so I end up shutting it down and restarting it periodically. All behind a hardware firewall, of course

Chris

Zone alarm works for me.

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Charlo

Zone alarm on all my PCs and laptops.

Add another vote for sygate

Hears good reports about Black Ice, but only if you are an advanced user ( but that was a while ago ) The may have made it idiot proof ( for people like me )

Steve

Zone alarm for me to, used the pro for 30 day free trial and now on the original (free) one...works fine for me;)

Phil

See

http://www.grc.com/

For a free firewall test and free advice etc re firewalls, security issues, bugs and all that stuff.

Brian

Zone Alarm Pro for me