Firewall or Packet Filter?

[Megalomaniac]

Hello.
I don't know if what I am looking for is a packet filter or a firewall, but I am hoping someone can steer me in the right direction.
I want a soft which basically determines which program can make outbound connections, so that I don't have softs phoning home without my knowledge, etc.
I don't need HIPs and all that other stuff.

Thanks.

[WSFuser]

Youre looking for a software firewall.

[Megalomaniac]

Ok, thanks!
Would you be so kind as to recommend the lightest, simplest firewall able to accomplish this, control of outbound connections?
Almost every soft these days are checking for updates; I just want my browser to go out and that's it.

EDIT: Duh. I see someone just asked the same question yesterday, with the title, "Outbound?".
Thanks, WSFuser!

[Stem]

-{ Quote: "I don't know if what I am looking for is a packet filter or a firewall, but I am hoping someone can steer me in the right direction.
I want a soft which basically determines which program can make outbound connections, so that I don't have softs phoning home without my knowledge, etc.
I don't need HIPs and all that other stuff.

Thanks." }-You are basically looking for an application firewall, rather than a rules based firewall. (where an application is allowed internet access with only one popup(or a split on outbound/inbound?), to allow or not?. Packet filtering should actually be done in both.

-{ Quote: "I see someone just asked the same question yesterday, with the title, "Outbound?"." }-That thread refers to a user with a router, and given advice on possibly using an HIPS (which you prefer not to).


Are you behind a router?
A firewall such as Jetico1 could, with some editing of rules, give you the application control, and packet filtering, with minimal system usage, and (with correct policy) minimal popups.

[AJohn]

Look'n'Stop without the network filtering would provide what you want.

[wat0114]

The firewall you can use depends on the O/S you are using. Not all of them are Vista compatible.