This software is offensive

[Guest]

[damon888]

I expected all the kneejerk responses like "this guy is a noob" etc. That is so typical of online communities, even "friendly" ones like this. My posting was a result of frustration and disappointment. I've been through many different security products, and my quest is to find the one that works well of course, but my top criteria is minimal impact on my system, since I use Photoshop, and need all my computer's resources devoted to that app. I am not looking for a free ride. I am a paying user of several different products on my various machines, which gives me the opportunity to compare them in the real world. I had high hopes for Comodo based on various reviews. It worked OK at first and then I noticed I couldn't communicate with my file server or access the internet. This happend both at my business and my home office as well on the PCs with Comodo installed. OK, stuff happens, and what I do is the look in the Help file first (which is what I train my employees to do, but they never do). Then I Google around and I often check the forums for answers. I used to write software and I was a Database consultant, so I am used to complicated software and useless documentation. But I have lost my patience with software that doesn't work, is too hard to use, doesn't make sense or that has poor documentation.
I can deal with complexity. I just successfully "upgraded" my Dell XPS 420 from Vista to XP SP3 with a clean install on a fast new drive by creating an install DVD using Microsoft slipstreaming and a few different products to pull the hidden files of my XP SP2 disk. The hardest part was finding the correct XP drivers that Dell hides all over the place. I challenge any of you to find the latest SigmaTel audio drivers that allow access to the digital audio features of the 420 in XP.
The point is I am not a sissy. But I know annoying software when I see it. I'm sure it's righteous at its core, but should I have to go past the Help File to do something as simple as connect to the Internet? Life's too short.
Comodo's documentation is "self-referential". One page sends you to another page for help and that page sends you back where you started for help, like a ping pong ball. Like the documentation for my D-Link router. It tells me about all these cool settings and options, but never tells me what I really need to know which is: What are the best settings for me to use under normal circumstances? What should I do to be safe and still have reasonable access?
It's great to have lots and lots of options and tweaks available if I want them. Let me tell you that I connect through a router and that I want to share files with other computers in my office, then HOOK ME UP, PROTECT ME AND THEN GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE UNTIL THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM.
One more story that seems relevant for some reason: Many years ago in the early days of Windows, I was a project leader and very proud of our software which allowed remote users to connect to our mainframe using a Windows PC instead of a dumb terminal and to do their job in what we thought was a more elegant and efficient way. We gathered our users from around the state for training in our wonderful new application. I was standing in front of hundreds of fine in DUH viduals showing them how to use a Mouse to point and click and navigate around. A woman stood up and asked: "What is a mouse?"

Thanks to everyone here who offered to help me. If I decide to keep using Comodo I will take you up on your offer!
 

[darth]

Damon88, you might want to checkout  Comodo Firewall V2.4, which I use. It is a good basic firewall. Pretty much out of the box operation with default settings. Not really any hips here. But I have a seperate hips utility. It will take, maybe couple of days or so to learn. Then no really annoying popups, only from time to time do I get a popup, say like when Windows updates, etc.

[gibran]

Thanks Damon88,
your latest post fill some gaps I was wondering about and you even admitted that your first post was a result of frustration and disappointment.
This forum is a gathering place for all people who use and appreciate a Comodo product, that's why so many replies were to be expected even though you specified you are a technology planner as your remarks appeared to be represented as unquestionable facts.

Taking out of picture the excesses due to your disappointment I understand your personal opinion that CFP was difficult to configure and that the help file didn't provide an aswer to your questions.

As for CFP help file file I guess you wanted something like a walkthrough or a problem-solving section while the help file is currently designed against a "What is this" approach.

Some members planned to provide a more detailed user manual (Comodo Firewall - Help for Users written by Users! Volume 1, 2, 3) but that project was soon abandoned.
If someone will join that project again I'm sure that the tips and extended explanations will prove useful to many users.

Anyway IMHO Security itself is somewhat the result of a compromise between training, policies, user behaviours and softwares. CFP itself has many operational modes and even among members usage patterns differ. As there in no single way to achieve security it is difficult to suggest a single way to configure CFP.

The same goes with the difficulties you faced configuring CFP. Every software is designed against some paradigm and end-users will find those softwares more or less easy to use as result of how much that paradigm fits their perspective. IMHO it is perfectly natural to find users that consider CFP difficult to configure. This of course don't make them newbies nor does it make the people who don't find CFP difficult less real.

[DarkButterfly]

"I've been through many different security products, and my quest is to find the one that works well of course, but my top criteria is minimal impact on my system, since I use Photoshop, and need all my computer's resources devoted to that app."

And you point is? I ask this, as I am a user that makes extensive use of Adobe Photoshop and CFP never conflicted or stole ram memory. All I had to do when I first install CFP and any other app that I trust, is to add it as a trusted one.

Also, I don't understand your complains. Being an expert, as you stated you were (sorry if I misunderstood that), then you would have no problems to properly configure CFP to your taste. Or even a way to ask for help without such sort of "first madness" I saw on your first post.

Also, there are so many people that I recommend this firewall to, who do not have that many computer skills, and they all are quite happy with it. When they didn't know (or don't know, in case of new users), then they ask to me and if I can't answer, they will come to forums (to this one or any other where people, including in this case Comodo Staff, are willing to help).

And advanced user such as yourself, once again, would have no problems to figure it out, either by yourself or decently asking for help.

I mean, lets suppose you work as an IT for some company and they got a new firewall product (what ever that is). You seem not to know how to work with it (I believe that you should). Will you go mad at the developers? Our kindly ask for help?

[3xist]

damon888.

We are giving you all the opportunity in the world to give you a chance so we can help you. This is what the community is here for.

Josh

[Osage]

Sorry OP, I totally reject your premise that comodo is offensive in any way. Actually, comodo mostly plays well with three types of users.

1. The totally ignorant, comodo3 does a great job self configuring as a firewall. OP, If you had less than the usual luck, it means you have something non standard on your computer, but you would (a) probably have equal bad luck with any other firewall. (b) have maybe ignored this forum resource that might help you fix any problems. (c) You ignore the fact that ratings wise, Comodo3 is arguably the best current firewall on the planet. (d) Meaning what do you gain if you find a firewall that gives you no problems but also does nothing to protect you?

2. The group that have explored some of the real configuration power of comodo, and they find comodo is a geeks firewall with so many configuration options that a steep learning curve is involved. And even more customization and protection then becomes possible.

3. The real few experts who can say they really have mastered comodo3, and certainly not me. But even that group gets surprised as the comodo programming team keeps rolling out new features.

4. I too could have given up on comodo3 w2hen it was initially  released, it could not do something I needed it to do. But that got corrected in two weeks or so, and its just keeps getting better and better for me.

5. As a long time computer user, I feel that every time something changes in the computer world, someone will be burned with unintended consequences. Its true for Comodo and every piece of software on any computer. Right now its Zone Alarm's turn in the barrel, microsoft released a security patch and its a giving zone alarm users fits. Its more of a stuff happens than any indictment of the quality of the software.

[ailef]

I am a very experienced computer user. I was a technology planner for a major state agency and purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars of hardware and software annually. I currently have my own business with six networked PCs. I have been testing Comodo firewall and my conclusion is that it is useless. It is way too hard to configure, the documentation doesn't make any sense, and it is very intrusive. I am not able to access the internet or exchange files on the computers it is installed on unless I turn it off. The "Help File" is useless. It tells me to define a Network Zone so I can then define Stealth something or other so I can define Rules. Excuse me, but I want to use my computers to accomplish actual work. I don't want to have to read poorly written documentation to figure out how to make something work. I don't care how good this software is supposed to be. If it is too hard to use, it is worthless. What seems obvious to you people is not obvious to the average user or even the skilled user. You must look at your software from the point of view of real people.
I am not even interested in investing any more time in this crapware. Life is too short and there are too many options. Get a grip.

that's your opinion and i respect it but tell me which solution will u use instead?
you don't understand the documentation but as u seems to be a very experienced user, u should get how comodo works after have a look at all the options and the help of the "poor" documentation".
i'm not heinstein and i learnt to use comodo even if i probably dont use all the possibilities that comodo offers.
if u know a lot about computers or security apps, u certainly saw that comodo is not just a simple firewall and is able to prevent your system from being contaminated by some unknown malware your AV wasnt able to detect.
du u realize the quality of this app that is better than most of competitors products and that for free?
do u know any free app that good? it's free and it's the best security solution i know.
just my opinion.
but competitors are facing a *****g huge problem with comodo FW team coders in the place that offer a freeware that beats most of sharewares.
i used other products then i saw that comodo was the best actual solution on xp and vista after various tests.
it's not 100% perfect but it's not far and i feel that next build will confirm that.
now about closing topic, as i'm not moderator and if there are no insults that are not tolerable in a forum, i will not vote to close it. but i just read  your first post and reply about that. now i'm going to read the rest and if i don't see words that have nothing to do on a forum, i will not vote to close it.
everyone is allowed to tell his thinking, even if it's to say that u think comodo is crap,
as i see it's crap cause u got probs to configure it and got troubles with your network.
now it's possible that comodo doesnt work good for you,
but i think an experienced user would never say that on comodo. not even more a coder. take a look at defense+, it's really a great protection.

i read others replies of posters and to reply like that to this user which got troubles with comodo will not help in anyway.
where is the prob if he thinks comodo is crap? it's like he insulted your mama or something like that, calm down sirs, there'no fire in the house, it's better to try talkin instead of saying the poster is a noob,etc.
do u know him to judge like that? that's stupid attitude, sorry if i hurt some of u. that's it.

[aussiebear]

I don't understand what damon888 wants to do? He wants to make Comodo Firewall work, but is utterly frustrated by it. He then goes to express his frustration while at the same time, trying to defend his ego as an experienced computer user. (multiple times).

I'm sorry damon888, the reason why you're getting these same types of reactions in forums (not just Comodo), is because of the way you act. You can't expect people to help you if you violate the "Golden Rule" of life. That is, you treat others like how you want to be treated.

Let go of this "experienced computer ego" and face some humility. Become aware of the fact that you don't know something and that its OK. Hence, the reason you ask for help. (Why is it so hard for people to ask for help? No one cares of your skill level, as long as you're polite about asking for help. Humanity has a natural tendency to help others. Its the way we are.)

If you want help, then ask for it. Venting your frustrations is NOT going to solve your problems. Its just going to anger other people. (Deep down, you knew that, as you expressed in your 2nd post).

What is you network configuration?

Are you starting from a freshly installed system?

Are you using the traditional approach of having a firewall/router sitting in front of the network?

Does it use Static IP or DHCP?

What version of Windows are you using?

How are you setting things up? Do you have other AV or security apps running? Have you properly uninstalled them? Cleaned out your registry and removed any left over residue? (use something like ccleaner)

Can you still ping other PCs or the router when Comodo Firewall is running but protections are disabled? etc.

You need to figure out if Comodo Firewall is really the issue and what rule you need to create.

[ailef]

yes u're right aussiebear,
should be better to expose the problem with details but we're no perfect and sometimes we post things as we tried to solve our prob for a long time then we post what we think on the moment.
now does this poster still want to try to solve his prob or comodo is definetly not the solution is looking for?

[Vettetech]

How does the quote go..............." There is no such thing as a stupid question". All you have to do is ask. Hell I have been fixing cars for 18 years now and I still don't know everything.

[ailef]

hé hé yep, we'll stop learning when it will be time to die.
if u ask for something that seems very simple like how to install comodo,
someone intelligent will not answer : hé man stop using computers, u're too stupid. but i got friends that never make any effort cause i'm there so they don't even try to fix their probs which are sometimes so easy, they just know i'm there so why searching by themselves, and it can be very irritating when it's the 10ème time that he asked u for the same prob in 2 weeks.
anyway, the more u ask the more u learn but don't forget google, sometimes it's way faster than wait for help on forums as u'll get your help on first google link.

[3xist]

This thread will be closed very shortly if there is not an immediate reasonable response. So damon888, Please reply now and let us help you.

Josh

[axl]

I have been following this thread from the beginning.

The OP is a troll.

[3xist]

This Topic has no longer stayed at it's purpose, To avoid more debates & arguments, I will close this thread.

damon888: If you seek proper help for CFP 3, Post it in help for v3 and we will be more then happy to help you accordingly there.

[Tags:]