64-bit firewalls

[Stormwaltz]

Apparently, there are no reputable free ones. Could someone recommend me a good one to buy?

[Oban]

Sure. 

http://www.apple.com/macosx/

or

http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/

[Lantyssa]

That was almost a water on the keyboard moment.  Thanks.

[Ookii]

Lulz @ Oban for thinking Macs don't need a firewall.

Don't want to use Vista built in firewall?  I assume the only thing you need one for is to handle outbound connections.

[Oban]

lolz at not knowing that OSX has a firewall built in and that the server version can act as the DMZ controller as well...

http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/technology/security.html

[Yegolev]

Router?

[Oban]

http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/features/networking.html

If you don’t already have an Internet router, Mac OS X Server can set up your dual-Ethernet equipped Mac Pro or Xserve as a gateway between your local network and the Internet.

[Ookii]

lolz at not knowing that OSX has a firewall built in and that the server version can act as the DMZ controller as well...

http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/technology/security.html

He wants a 64bit firewall so he should buy a new computer to either replace his or become the firewall for his personal computer?   You could buy a 100 dollar router with a firewall built in that would suffice, it doesn't make any sense.  Also with that logic he could take any older computer and throw pfsense or monowall on there and have something even better.

[Oban]

Wait wait wait... are you trying to say that Apple products are overpriced?

[Trippy]

Router?

If you care only about incoming threats this is the correct answer -- buy a router with a good firewall.

Software firewalls running locally can be useful if you are the paranoid type and want to know everything that's "phoning home", which unfortunately these days is a lot of fricking apps. On Vista this might be helpful to prevent a malicious app from phoning home (depending on your security setup) but you are still basically screwed and are going to have to reinstall the OS anyways.

Just Googling around I found this:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

No idea if it's any good or not but it has a 64-bit version.

[Yegolev]

Very true about catching apps that try to get out, but as you said, if this happens then you're already infected.  I have AVG do daily scans so I don't really see the need for a software firewall, in my case.  The main use I got out of a software firewall was preventing various things from performing updates or connecting to the internet for stupid shit, like downloading album cover art.  I can't say I have ever discovered malware with ZoneAlarm.  I tend to get more use out of SpyBot's TeaTimer, which catches registry updates.

[ahoythematey]

Comodo is very sufficient.  I've been using it for awhile and seems to be doing it's job well.