Windows 10 Firewall?

Hello!
I have been a happy devotee of the Major Geeks malware removal guide for years (thank you!) and regularly check here for tips on whatever might be ailing my laptop.
I had been running Comodo free firewall for a long time with Windows 8, but when I upgraded to Windows 10 it wouldn't work with it then, so I switched to Private Firewall. Last night my system did a haYOOGE Windows 10 update and now Private Firewall no longer works either. I used IOBit Unistaller to remove Private Firewall,

I came back here to look for a new suggested firewall and the Comodo download page says it works with Win10, but when I downloaded and attempted to install as admin, I got a notification that the system would not let it open because it was not compatible with Win10. I've done a search in the forums and can't see anywhere this has been addressed yet.

Any suggestions for a fabulous free firewall that will work with the latest upgrade of Win10?

FYI, for compatibility info, I also run Avast free AV, and MalwareBytes Home premium.

Thank you!

 

According to MajorGeeks, ZoneAlarm Free is Windows 10 compatible.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/zonealarm_free.html

 

Comodo products work just fine with Windows 10 so it could be some other problem on your system, or in the way you are installing it.
If it was working fine in Windows 8.1, and you carried out the normal free Windows free upgrade to 10, it should have been there and working when the system restarted.
It would be safer if you were to do a clean and careful uninstall of all third party firewalls, and if using IoBit uninstaller using the 'Powerful Scan' to remove all left over entries, then restart your system, run a simple default settings clean with CCleaner and simple default scan and fix with its 'Registry Cleaner' to be sure all orphaned entries are removed. Then download a clean copy of whatever Firewall you prefer, making sure you choose the correct version/build for your system - ie 32 bit or 64 bit - and then Run as Administrator and reinstall afresh.

 

I'm behind my router's hardware firewall and Win 10's built-in software firewall and nothing uninvited has ever gained access, or been able to phone home, or even once popped up to tell me it just saved my skin. It's been configured that way ever since Win 7 was launched in 2009. With XP I used to use AVG but got heartily sick and tired of it popping up telling me what a good job it was doing.

 

Thank you for your fast response. I always used Comodo or Private Fw because the rating on the Windows firewalls were about the least effective available and I have a child and a teen that use my computer so I need a well-rated one since they aren't always the savviest surfers.

 

Love 3angle...

Have you set up a separate user account for your children? I recommend looking into your options with that in addition to finding a good firewall. You can have potentially powerful controls that will behave sort of like a firewall to the system overall...

 

Love 3angle...

I recommend taking a look at the video linked below which explains why some programs will not install into Windows 10. It's very interesting and there is an option for installing Comodo Firewall. You will have to be feeling ambitious and adventurous, however, and I am not saying I recommend downloading anything recommended for use in the video. The video is about installing Comodo Internet Security, but the CIS and CF installers are similarly configured, so I would say there is a decent chance this will work for you. Read the comments on the video page and the YouTube uploader's comments before making a decision. Come back and ask if you have any questions.

Video link:



Sorry, but I am feeling adventurous, so I will be unavailable for a little while...

 

Anyone interested in the above who may be having trouble installing programs in Windows 10. Unpacking the Comodo installer does work, and it does install CIS (CF is included) without any need for denying any of the secondary apps. This could be useful for anyone who is having trouble installing a program. Unpack, and then look for the single program executable (the program you want) in the contents of the unpacked .exe. Looks like Win 10 blocks by default "loaded" installers that install multiple programs.

I am NOT recommending this, but I followed the instructions point by point and step by step. This does work with CIS...

 

It isn't just Win 10 that applies to. I still use Lotus 1-2-3 circa 1998 but it's part of Lotus Smartsuite which both 7 and 8.1 object to and won't install. But unpacking the installer and installing just 1-2-3 does work, even in Win 10.

 

Awesome. Thanks Earthling.

 

'Smartscreen' in Windows OSs even before Win10 would block files (many on MGs such as Shark's Codecs) that it considered 'unsafe' maybe because of adware - so does Chrome, for example - but they both have slightly hidden overrides to that stupidity.
That video is 5 months old, it's actually inaccurate in that what may have happened in July (when that video was released to You Tube) hasn't happened on my 3 Win 10 systems or those of several friends I have helped. And as of of recently I have seen no Windows 10 block on Comodo.
BUT the 'smartscreen' filter block does not make it clear you can override its stupidity unless you click on the bottom left word 'More'.

 

Thank you for the unpacking tips. I will give it a try.

 

Ok, the unpacking works like a charm but I don't see an installer for just the firewall anywhere in the files. Even when I download just the free firewall from the Comodo site, the installer files still contain the full Internet Security suite. gggggrrrrrrrrrrr
I suppose I could install the full suite and dump Avast. Seems like I'm moving backwards.

 

Love3angle...

I think they are basically if not exactly the same thing. Try running CIS next to avast and see what happens. You shouldn't have any problems, but there is a setting in Comodo to turn off the a-v scanning also. I think you can do this too with avast, but I would stick with the avast scans. Or you could delete avast and just go with CIS.

CIS is a heavily firewall based security program. The Comodo scanning definitions aren't ranked all that highly, but the security suite is the best that exists. Says alot for the firewall. Try MalwareTips for video and information. There is alot of great info there on CIS.

I installed the Comodo Firewall, straight from the CF installer, without unpacking a couple of months ago, and I am not kidding. It is the same program. BTW, the safe desktop is great if you purchase online. Keystrokes aren't recorded when it is open. You browser will work fine from there...

 

If you look at the install windows very carefully, it allows you to choose exactly what components you want. If all you want is the FW, you can uncheck AV, IS, GeekBuddy, Chromodo Browser etc etc

 

Got it. I wasn't paying attention to the checkbox the first time. I got just the firewall this time. Thanks everyone!