Hi I'm looking for suggestions in freeware software firewalls that still support windows 98. I have used zonealarm for years but they stoped support for win 98 a while ago.

Thanks Alot

Kerio 2.1.5 is excellent on 98. It's quite different than ZA as it's a rule based firewall, so it will take some getting used to. Very light and quite effective. It's not supported anymore but then 98 isn't supported either. It's available at OldVersion.
Rick

I recommend Jetico but it is very weird to configure, especially if you've used ZA before. Not really supported anymore either.

http://www.jetico.com/jpfwall.exe

The last working version for Win9X is Kerio Personal Firewall 4.1.3

I think that last firewall which even today support Windows 98 is Outpost Firewall.

How good it is I do not know

2.1.5 gets thumbs up from me. Just make sure you configure it well. Poorly configured it will give a false sense of security. Well configured it's excellent. Some of the rule lists floating about aren't really that great. Suggest following (in this order):

1. First do *all* the blocks (block unwanted ports, Netbios, port 445, unwanted protocols, etc)

2. Port 53 remote. Allow *only* your ISP's DNS: Block all others

3. Allow only applications you want to access the internet (I permanently block Internet Explorer BTW) but only on ports they need

4. Finally (last rule) block all incoming stuff (all addresses, all ports).

Make sure you do a good virus check before going online and before installing kerio.

Most all free(ware) firewalls that support Windows 9x OSes [95/98/ME] are listed here:
http://www.mdgx.com/fw.htm#FWL
Supported OSes clearly stated for each firewall.

HTH [Hope This Helps]

Zonealarm is a nice one but indeed, recent versions are getting more bloated and don't support Win9x. However, if anyone's interested, you can download older ones at oldversion.com. They're still efficient.

bad link ?

2.15 was the last "freeware" version, next, I think, were shareware or evaluation versions.

you are right

1. Not a bad link:
http://www.mdgx.com/fw.htm#FWL
Please try again, I just tried it and works ok.
Maybe my web provider was doing some maintenance on their servers when you tried 1st time. [?]

2. Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) 2.1.5 is the last freeware, newer versions are all trial shareware [become "crippled freeware" after 30 days of evaluation].
Kerio doesn't even develop the personal firewall anymore, they sold it to Sunbelt, who now makes the 4.x.xxx shareware versions of SPF (Sunbelt Personal Firewall), but only for NTx OSes [2000/XP/2003/Vista].
If you wish, you can try SPF [also linked at my web page above]:
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Home-Home-...sonal-Firewall/
SPF [6.27 MB]:
http://go.sunbelt-software.com/?linkid=440

HTH

Does work now indeed.

On http://www.mdgx.com/fw.htm#FWL, I believe the link for Tiny Personal Firewall should read version 2.0.15 instead of 2.1.5.

That was a good quickstart for setting up Kerio. Its default rules are too permissive for secure usage. Kerio also allows you to tightly control loopback connections. Many otherwise good firewalls fall short here.
Rick