Best FREE Firewall 4 U ?

I am heartily sick of Zone Alarm Free, trying to install the latest version on my Laptop. It demands that I install it logging on as Administrator. When I try to install it as Administrator it gets part way through and then demands that I install it logging on as Administrator. Stuff it. I've tried many times. Same Result. :cry

ZA did not bother to reply to my email either.

I've known for years that ZA Free is not the best FREE Firewall, indeed it has always rated pretty poorly, but it has suited my modest needs. I tried Comodo (been rated the best for years) early it its' development and it drove me (and many others) mad. with requests to OK the running of various programs. Very much like UAC in Vista did. It also was difficult to uninstall at that time. I went back to ZA.

Years have gone by and after my latest battle with ZA I decided to research Firewalls and Comodo is still the best. (see matousec links below)

Check out : Comodo Internet Security 4.1.150349.920 at
http://majorgeeks.com/Comodo_Internet_Security_d6234.html
Size: 41.6 MB
License: Freeware
Requires: Win7/Vista/XP
Downloaded: 21377 Times
Rating: 4.63 (93 votes)

I ended up at:
http://www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/results.php

and for individual reports on all Firewalls listed go to

http://www.matousec.com/projects/pr...- Comodo Internet Security 4.0.141842.828.pdf

Read the reports on Comodo and Zone Alarm Free (very interesting comparisons) :-D

Comodo 100% Zone Alarm 11%

I'm about to install Comodo (see MG link above) and we will see what happens. :-D

See attachments for best ones in jpg format

Bazza

 

Good luck. I'm one of those who wants a minimum of running processes and services with a firewall or antivirus. PC Tools Firewall Plus is my current choice. It's everything I want in a free version, mainly simplicity.

 

Hi Bazza,

Had Comodo FW in the past and quickly uninstalled. Too much distraction with all its popups. Clicking yes or no on every popup that one perhaps doesn't necessarily understand every time, makes it IMHO not the very safest FW around. Unless of course if one is an ultra geek, understands it completely and additionally loves the clickies.

Personally, I tried Online Armor a while back. It is a good FW. For quite a while I do have PC Tools FW Plus and it's not intrusive at all. Matousec's findings are just that ... if one is to go every time after their #1 on the list, one would be chasing FW's all the time. I feel most comfortable with PC Tools so far.

BTW had ZoneAlarm many years ago, it was my first FW after XP.

 

Had Comodo (for a bit) on XP. Was also behind a secured router. Now with Vista and Win7 I don't bother. Then again only after a secured router.
Cheers..

 

Hi Bazza , I have PC Tools Plus Free FW, and have really liked it. It is simple, gives me everything I need, and no problems.

I have heard a lot of complaints on ZA, so you are not alone. I think it is a personal choice, and another good point, is I am on a dial up connection, so maybe that has something to do with it, I don't know. Just know that I haven't had any issues with PC Tools FW myself. Hope you find one that works for you

One other item, is OS. I have heard that PC Tools is best for XP, but not Vista. Have no idea why, either. rolleyes

 

Also using PC Tools Firewall Plus Free 6.0.0.88 with XP SP3.
As noted in matousec's notes, this FW previously had an Excellent rating.

There may be quite a few popups initially until it 'learns' which apps you identify
as OK. After that you may also get a popup when a connecting app has been upgraded or when some configuration file(s) have been changed.

On the Settings -> General tab you can check 'automatically allow known applications'.

I have been wondering what other PC Tools FW users would suggest re: the
Settings -> Filtering -> 'Enable Enhanced Security Verification' option?
Currently I have it turned Off.

 

Some additional info about Online Armor Firewall.

The software has been turned over to Emsisoft. From what I see, the support forum is still there and their volunteers (catprincess etc) give excellent advice and help. Here's their forum link: http://support.tallemu.com/vbforum/forumdisplay.php?f=15

Here's PC Tools Plus' forum: http://www.pctools.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=30

Prior to switching to a firewall/antivirus etc. I always like to browse their support forum to see if any general problems and how/if they are solved to customers' satisfaction.

Good luck with your choice Bazza!

 

Yes oma, I agree about Comodo (in the past). Re-read my comments in post #1. But it has really changed. 24 hours on and I am very happy with Comodo so far. It has to build its' database of course, like any other Firewall, but its' intrusions have been very minimal. :major :cool You now don't have to be an ultra geek.

Bazza

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My #2 son has PCT Firewall on his laptop. He must have installed it. I didn't like PCT "checking on" its answer to any popups it does. I have uninstalled it whilst I am carrying out some housekeeping on his PC.

Too dangerous, IMHO, to automatically "opt in" and accept any popups in a Firewall. I am no expert in PCT use so could be wrong about this.

Bazza

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Thanks to all who have commented so far.

Firewalls are a personal thing, no matter how they are rated.

I would still be with Zone Alarm if it hadn't insisted on an Administrator being required to load it (and then still didn't work). Revo Uninstaller tells me that I have 170+ programs installed, that it can find (plus a few more it can't)

The most recent versions of ZA (this the only program I have ever had, ever, that I can remember) that insists on an Admin user to install it. Previous versions of ZA, over many years, did not have this requirement.

I had built-in prejudices against Comodo going back to versions over 2 years ago, but it sure has changed. :cool

Keep you comments rolling in. :-D

Bazza

 

Since you asked for comments, I am pleasantly surprised with the built-in firewall in Windows 7. Very unobtrusive, but given the total lack of nasties on my PC since I activated it, it seems to be doing its job. The most messages I've ever had from it was last week, when I connected through the complimentary unsecured wifi at the hotel. The firewall spotted the lack of security, and wanted to limit admin access for a large number of my applications as long as we were on an unsecured connection. I told it yes, but only on public/unsecured networks, and the pop-ups went away.

Overall, very pleasantly surprised with this OS firewall.

 

Thanks Mimsy, for your comments about the W7 firewall.

Where is Ferelden? I could Google it, of course, but then I would be the only one who would know, other than Fereldenites. :-D

Bazza

 

Ferelden is the country where the game Dragon Age takes place.

 

That explains it. I only play Freecell. :-D Not smart enough for anything else.

Bazza

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do it yourself databases and virtualization is the best firewall option, but if you want to use a free one windows firewall is good on vista/7. On the other hand, if you're an xp user I've heard good things about commodo and pc tools (i didn't like pc tools' version though which is a shame as I liked their heuristic use in anti-virus).

 

Comodo is consistently one of the top rated FW products, free or paid. Personally, I like Online Armor (the free one of course ). I simply like the GUI and the options.... however, I currently use the included Win7 firewall with the free Avira antivirus and the paid MalwareBytes, and I couldn't be happier with my set up: no nasties, limited intrusions from warnings and pop-up messages, no system lag.