What Is The Best Free Firewall Today?

[bob3160]

update: new version of zone alarm 7.0.470.000

Updates belong in the following post. 
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=9671.msg285514#new

[don67]

update: new version of zone alarm 7.0.470.000

Updates belong in the following post. 
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=9671.msg285514#new

thanks for your reply

[janpoko]

As a newbie, running through the thread, I have noticed that its original motive somehow got lost in mutual quarrels of particular participants.

Maybe that was the reason why no one reflected here the latest news from the firewall world, namely:

1.
Scot's decision to name Online Armor "The Best Firewall Software of 2008"
(Finnie Scot is editor in chief of Computerworld)
see: http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2008/03/24/the-best-firewall-software-of-2008-online-armor/

2.
100% score in Matoušek's tests, the first such result in the  history of Firewall Challenge Project.
(A spicy detail of this: It was Comodo tester who first reported an OA problem to Matousek thus making Australians to speed up new version and submit it for retesting that brought this significant result.)
see: http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php


Eventhough I strongly agree with the argument that the best firewall is the one which suits his user best, I would never undervalue thorough independent review or results from reproducible, widely accepted well-developed tests.
So my congrats to those who selected Online Armor as a part of their security suite.

[Lisandro]

1. Scot's decision to name Online Armor "The Best Firewall Software of 2008"
(Finnie Scot is editor in chief of Computerworld)

It's a pity that it does not work on Vista...

2. 100% score in Matoušek's tests, the first such result in the  history of Firewall Challenge Project.

About the leak tests limitations: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=29259.msg247460#msg247460

[drhayden1]

It's a pity that it does not work on Vista...

just uninstalled pctools firewall plus on my hp laptop which has XP and put the online armor on and works real nice as of this time.
will probably keep it on until the avast!firewall comes out

[tbird]

drhayden - is it as easy to use as pctools firewall?

[drhayden1]

drhayden - is it as easy to use as pctools firewall?

sort of-it has a few pop up's as normal but i really like it
it goes through a check list of your system at start and ask you a few questions as normal but try it-i think you will like it
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4872.html get it from here-the link from online armor to download.com was corrupt
Requires: Win NT/2K/XP/2003-no Vista yet as Tech stated above

[gdiloren]

To recap, those on Vista can rely on:
a.Comodo3 Firewall Pro
b.PC Tools Firewall Plus
c. Zone Alarm Firewall Free
d. and...the Windows Firewall in Vista SP1 is better than XP Sp2 but still doesn't provide outbound protection!

[tbird]

Thanks drhayden - went to their website and I checked on the link that said conflict with other programs.  Well a program I use AdMuncher was on there but said they were working with them to correct issue.  Will keep checking back to see when they get it corrected then will d/l and try.

[greyowl]

drhayden1,

You mentioned that Avast is coming out with a firewall.   Do you have any idea when the Avast Firewall will be available?

[Lisandro]

You mentioned that Avast is coming out with a firewall.   Do you have any idea when the Avast Firewall will be available?

They haven't schedule it yet.
But they say it will born after avast version 5.
So, probably, next year.

[greyowl]

tech,
Thanks for the info.

[Lisandro]

tech,
Thanks for the info.

You're welcome.

[bob3160]

d. and...the Windows Firewall in Vista SP1 is better than XP Sp2 but still doesn't provide outbound protection!

The Firewall in Vista does offer outbound protection but it isn't easy to manage.

[neal62]

All of this has been very interesting to read. Enjoyed the discussions.