Conflicting firewalls, which one should I keep?

ashh · 23. Jul 2011, 02:24 AM

ok, we had wireless cable internet installed about a month ago, at the time of installation I had ZoneAlarm pc security suite installed and I had no issues with connecting to the wireless modem...
Subscription to ZA ended and I now have avast antivir free, superantispyware for on demand, and comodo free firewall...
My internet connection is good and strong as I have no issues connecting with our iphones, but I am having to constantly re-connect to the internet on the pc, sometimes it last for 5 mins or sometimes it lasts for 15mins, never the less, its very annoying...
I googled my modem and it says it has a built in firewall, so I am firstly going to assume that the problem is comodo and the modem firewall conflicting....

Which one should I disable?
or can I have both still running with a possible settings adjustment I dont know of? Will the iphones be at risk if the modem firewall is disabled?
Does my Home pc have enough firewall protection if I disable Comodo firewall and just rely on the routers firewall?
Any help or advice appreciated!

I also use sandboxie free to browse sandboxed...

This is the modem I have http://www.netgear.com.au/service-pr...ys/CGD24N.aspx

t i m · 23. Jul 2011, 03:33 AM

Hi ashh,

As far as I'm aware having a hardware and software firewall shouldn't be a problem. However, having two software firewalls may cause problems.

Do you still currently have Zonealarm installed on your computer, or is it just Comodo (for the firewall)?

AA78U · 23. Jul 2011, 04:06 AM

I'm probably wrong; but I could have sworn that ZoneAlarm and Comodo used to conflict each other?

ashh · 23. Jul 2011, 06:15 AM

No zonealarm is no longer installed... I installed comodo and i haven't tweaked anything except for when installing it I selected to install at the highest level of security... It's gotta be something simple....

kendall.a · 23. Jul 2011, 06:28 AM

If you have Windows 7 installed, I would uninstall Comodo and use the hardware firewall along with the Windows 7 built-in firewall.

Even if you are using Windows XP, and since you are using Sandboxie, you might still want to uninstall Comodo. If you feel you must have a firewall, then I would go with something less complex like Outpost or Private Firewall.

J_L · 23. Jul 2011, 07:40 AM

I would agree, unless you like/want Comodo's HIPS and Sandbox. If so, make sure to disable Windows Firewall. It's not that complex these days, unless you change it to Paranoid Mode.

Anupam · 23. Jul 2011, 07:44 AM

I will suggest to first disable the Comodo Firewall, and see if the problem still occurs.

You can also check if the Windows firewall is somehow running. This can happen sometimes, if you uninstall a third party firewall. This had happened with me. I had ZA free firewall on my system, and when I uninstalled it, the Windows firewall was turned on automatically. Worth a check.

Maybe the problem is not with conflicting firewalls, and somewhere else. So, keep that point in mind too, and look for other causes. Maybe the wireless signal is having problem, if the internet on PC is coming from a wireless source.

You can disable the Comodo Firewall and the router firewall one by one, and see if problem still occurs.

bo.elam · 23. Jul 2011, 07:53 AM

ashh, if there is a Zone Alarm clean up tool, you should run it. Theres got to be
one for the version you had. I am pretty sure that ZA left some files that might
be causing a conflict.

Bo

MidnightCowboy · 23. Jul 2011, 08:02 AM

The good news is this likely isn't driver related because when this happens during an uninstall you usually don't have any connection at all

My advice, before doing anything else with your system as it is, would be to note the exact time when a few of these events occur and then look in the Comodo logs to see if any of the entries there match.

Also, do you know if your ISP needs to "see you"? If so, maybe these connections are being blocked and so leading to a disconnection.

ashh · 23. Jul 2011, 09:27 AM

not sure if my isp needs to see me.....
Ill try the ZA clean up tool and check the windows firewall is indeed off, then Ill try disabling comodo and go from there....

23. Jul 2011, 02:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
ashh Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gold Coast Queensland Australia Posts: 21	Conflicting firewalls, which one should I keep? ok, we had wireless cable internet installed about a month ago, at the time of installation I had ZoneAlarm pc security suite installed and I had no issues with connecting to the wireless modem... Subscription to ZA ended and I now have avast antivir free, superantispyware for on demand, and comodo free firewall... My internet connection is good and strong as I have no issues connecting with our iphones, but I am having to constantly re-connect to the internet on the pc, sometimes it last for 5 mins or sometimes it lasts for 15mins, never the less, its very annoying... I googled my modem and it says it has a built in firewall, so I am firstly going to assume that the problem is comodo and the modem firewall conflicting.... Which one should I disable? or can I have both still running with a possible settings adjustment I dont know of? Will the iphones be at risk if the modem firewall is disabled? Does my Home pc have enough firewall protection if I disable Comodo firewall and just rely on the routers firewall? Any help or advice appreciated! I also use sandboxie free to browse sandboxed... This is the modem I have http://www.netgear.com.au/service-pr...ys/CGD24N.aspx

23. Jul 2011, 06:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
kendall.a Foundation Editor/Forum Manager Intern Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,814	If you have Windows 7 installed, I would uninstall Comodo and use the hardware firewall along with the Windows 7 built-in firewall. Even if you are using Windows XP, and since you are using Sandboxie, you might still want to uninstall Comodo. If you feel you must have a firewall, then I would go with something less complex like Outpost or Private Firewall. __________________ <-------Is looking for his brain....

23. Jul 2011, 07:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	I will suggest to first disable the Comodo Firewall, and see if the problem still occurs. You can also check if the Windows firewall is somehow running. This can happen sometimes, if you uninstall a third party firewall. This had happened with me. I had ZA free firewall on my system, and when I uninstalled it, the Windows firewall was turned on automatically. Worth a check. Maybe the problem is not with conflicting firewalls, and somewhere else. So, keep that point in mind too, and look for other causes. Maybe the wireless signal is having problem, if the internet on PC is coming from a wireless source. You can disable the Comodo Firewall and the router firewall one by one, and see if problem still occurs. __________________ Anupam

23. Jul 2011, 08:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Site Manager Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South American Banana Republic, third bunch from the left Posts: 9,250	The good news is this likely isn't driver related because when this happens during an uninstall you usually don't have any connection at all My advice, before doing anything else with your system as it is, would be to note the exact time when a few of these events occur and then look in the Comodo logs to see if any of the entries there match. Also, do you know if your ISP needs to "see you"? If so, maybe these connections are being blocked and so leading to a disconnection. __________________ Knows nothing and cares even less

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23. Jul 2011, 03:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
t i m Editor Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 6	Hi ashh, As far as I'm aware having a hardware and software firewall shouldn't be a problem. However, having two software firewalls may cause problems. Do you still currently have Zonealarm installed on your computer, or is it just Comodo (for the firewall)?

23. Jul 2011, 04:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
AA78U Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 6	I'm probably wrong; but I could have sworn that ZoneAlarm and Comodo used to conflict each other?

23. Jul 2011, 06:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
ashh Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gold Coast Queensland Australia Posts: 21	No zonealarm is no longer installed... I installed comodo and i haven't tweaked anything except for when installing it I selected to install at the highest level of security... It's gotta be something simple....

23. Jul 2011, 07:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
J_L Co-Author, Best Free Security List Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,475	I would agree, unless you like/want Comodo's HIPS and Sandbox. If so, make sure to disable Windows Firewall. It's not that complex these days, unless you change it to Paranoid Mode.

23. Jul 2011, 07:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
bo.elam Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,224	ashh, if there is a Zone Alarm clean up tool, you should run it. Theres got to be one for the version you had. I am pretty sure that ZA left some files that might be causing a conflict. Bo

23. Jul 2011, 09:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
ashh Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gold Coast Queensland Australia Posts: 21	not sure if my isp needs to see me..... Ill try the ZA clean up tool and check the windows firewall is indeed off, then Ill try disabling comodo and go from there....