Good Firewall (need specific features)

[shadowwyvern]

The college I am attending next year apparently gives all students corporate version of symantec. I intened to take advantage of that, but I have noticed that symantec products soemtimes do not play very well with one another, and thus I am goign to be needing a new firewall. However, I very much like, and use constantly, NIS's chain-like program rules (very similar to iptables on linux and quite powerful). Preferably, one that involves the fewest possible wizards :). Zone Alarm seems ok, but at least in the free veersion I could not define custom rule sets for programs. Then again, I did not try too hard either. Any programs out there that suit my needs? Budget I guess could be as high as $75 sicne I will nto be paying for anti-virus definitions for the next 4 years

[Johnboy12358]

Whats wrong with Symantec, I got that the first year I started college because of a worm that shut out the entire resnet network, and its performed perfectly sense. I have used other firewalls on other peoples computer like ZoneAlarm, and the thing drove me nuts. It is constantly bothering you, and doesn't seem like it does a really good job. In the time that I have used Norton (Symantec) I haven't been infected with any viruses and it has blocked all attempts at my computer, from viruses to DoS attacks.

Personally I like symmantec, and I also use McAffe at work, but I dont like it as much as norton.

Are they offering you Internet Security (Firewall/Antivirus combo) or just one or the other?

[shadowwyvern]

They are offering the corporate version of anti-virus. Probably to save internet bandwidth by keeping updates locally. symantec has never given me a whole lot of trouble, but I soemtiems with it would not be so wizardish. Plus, like I said, it seems as though having several different products (as opposed to NIS and antivirus of the same year) can cause some problems.

McAffee is SATAN. I despise it and all it's ilk. Filthy, from what I have seen it creates mroe pop-ups and other adware style notifications than I can stand. I get mad enough at norton tellign me my suscription has expired (or worse, when it is about to expire...grr)

[djnes]

Symantec Corporate should and will play nice with any other firewall software you might install. Or, if you continue to get updates for NIS, keep that and don't load the Symantec Corporate.