rec.autos.simulators

I really don't like this program for a long list of reasons (technical,
fundamental, and logistical), but I can certainly understand why it is so
popular.

I guess the fact that it "locks your system down from outsiders" and does so
in a Lite Version that is available for free is incentive enough. Although,
in the process it locks the outside world out for you too, with limited
control over what can and can't be accessed (both directions), and packaged
in a fumbling and limited popup-dialog-based Interface.

I'm not going to get into the "Finer Details of Firewall Logistics" with
you. Rather, I wish to point you to a package that resembles Zone Alarm in a
number of ways, but simply outperforms Zone Alarm hands down. If the "Zone
Alarm type" is your cup of tea, you might be wise to investigate Tiny
Software's Firewall Software called "Personal Firewall". You can get a fully
functional (with no "buy me for more necessary features" traps), and how it
is laid out is similar in design to ZA. Basically it is Zone Alarm Pro for
free (and a few more *necessary* features to boot).

You will then be able to quickly, efficiently, and intuitively open/close
ports on your firewall in any manner you choose. You can even "pause it" at
will with the click of a button, and actually have it pause/suspend (unlike
ZA). It will also popup alerts/auth-requests just like ZA if you happened to
miss a few, or the other prog has some backend requesting going on.

I am confident that you will find it outperforms and outclasses even Zone
Alarm Pro.

You might also want to check out Tiny's Winroute if you connect through a
proxy server and currently using Sygate or <GASP> Win ICS. That package also
outclasses the others in its field.

No I don't work for the company or have any relationship with them. They
just build good/intuitive/functional software, which is something I can
appreciate. The price isn't bad neither!

Cheers,
Schumi

i second the above suggestion 100%.  Tiny also make an excellent
webserver for debugging cgi's, but thats another story.

up.

Regards all,
istoff

I have ZoneAlarm at present, but don't like it very much, and i have to shut
it down, when I play oon vroc, since it often freezes GPL when I go to the
pits via the escape button. :(. Any suggestions velcome, but they have to
support ICS, and of course GPL and Vroc. But Zoen Alarm comes highly
recommended in almost all test of free firewalls for personal use. I have
consider buying EZArmor, with both anti virus and personal Firewall, any
comments/recomendations on that one?

Joakim

But, where do I find/download this little gem?

Are we talking about Tiny here?  And when you say "didn't support Internet
connection Sharing", what does that mean?

As a computer security consultant, I can completely agree with this.  I used
to run Zone Alarm,
but given the number of problems I had trying to get it to run WITH games, I
dropped it.  That,
and the fact that recent developments in the comp security world has proved
that Zone Alarm is
not invulnerable to attack, either...in fact, they've kind've been the
target since so many people
touted them so highly.

The problem with Zone Alarm is that is does NOT do what you want it to...if
you tell it to leave
open port for access, it does not leave them open.  As well, you can perform
a scan on a computer
running Zone Alarm, and it will still have ports open.  I've had a computer
that was running Zone
Alarm, and it would not allow it to access the network because the netbios
ports were hindered,
yet I issued it a remote shutdown from a remote access utility.

Tiny does exactly what you tell it to do, and I think it's a better product
for gamers.

Cheers!

Jan Kohl
The Pits - http://www.theuspits.com

Sorry, I missed that :)

Cheers,
Schumi

It's kind of nice not to install additional software for security and I can
play and
host games behind the firewall with no problems......

If so... they have limited memory capabilities, so mapping ports will reach
a maximum. Which is something to be concerned about if you play more than 1
game on different ports, or the game uses a broad-spectrum port range.

The only alternative left with many of them is to assign your Gamebox as the
DMZ... which basically forwards all ports not listed in the Port Mapping
table to your gamebox... which in turn means that your NAT security (which
is of little consolation) is null & void.

But we may be talking about different things.

Cheers,
Schumi

Tsunami

Which one are you talking about?

If it is firewall... click on "Advanced" Button next to the "Security level
slider". There will be a list of all your rules (which prog can access
in/out through which ports unhindered). Add a new one... xselect "Any
Program" fromt he program selection, and map both UDP/TCP ports UP/DOWN that
NFSPU or whatever game you're planning to play, uses. Then you have opened
the ports, and Bob's your uncle.

If you are asking about your Proxy Soft. I would suggest looking at your
documentation (I don't know about that soft). Look for "Port Mapping" and
"forward" those same ports as above for firewall... and forward them TCP/UDP
UP/DOWN to your gamebox.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Schumi

Hey Jason. Glad we're on this subject. I just bought a D-Link DI-704(combo
switch,router,NAT firewall)to network two home computers. I have yet to get the

figure it out, it seems highly configurable. Your suggesting it won't have
enough flexability? Whats the way to go without buying additional IP address?

--
Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.

GPLRank     -15.27
MonsterRank  91.34

Come see how you rank, at the GPLRank site
http://newgplrank.schuerkamp.de/

I actually set out to get a Netgear router, but got the Linksys
because the store didn't have the Netgear I wanted. I read the Netgear
firewall was more robust, but I'm happy with the Linksys.

As a test, I left Zonealarm on one of the machines to see how many
attempted accesses there were on my IP. I went from about 50 per day
(sometimes 50 over a weekend) with just ZoneAlarm to absolutely none
in a whole week with the router.

Tim

Tim,

Just FYI -- the router will take care of 99.9% of all *** activity
from outside your home network, but will do nothing for you if a
trojan makes its way onto your PC. If the router sees a packet
originating from within your network, it will let it through, as well
as letting through any packets that are sent back to you in response.

Todd Walker

twalker at jam dot rr dot com
http://www.racesimcentral.net/