Firewalls-Annual Charges Justified?

[Blackcat]

While testing a number of firewalls I noticed that most commercial ones have an annual update fee similar to AV programs. There are very few now which you can purchase for a one-off fee.

Most people appreciate that with AV programs the virus definitions are kept up to-date and we are paying for this service. But what are we paying for each year with software firewalls?

I can see that maybe a reduced fee may be needed for a completely new version, but apart from the occasional new leak- test exploit surely firewalls do not need to be updated as such compared to AV programs.

Therefore, are these annual charges justified? Particularly, when the so called 'new' version has only changed its GUI!

Moreover, there are free firewalls- ZAP and Kerio- which can be as effective as commercial alternatives. Whereas there are very few freeware AV software which are as good as their commercial alternatives.

[root]

Well, the firewalls that are doing it right have a staff of coders that are constantly working on fixing bugs and adding new features.
I think as long as a product is issuing new updates, out of necessity, or to increase its potential, it is fair to charge yearly, but it should be a reduced charge from the initial outlay.

[Lee]

A charge should be made for new threats that a hacker can create which means a charge is OK because a new patch is required, but when a firewall has design flaws in it the update should be free.

Lee

[Patrice]

Mhh... never heard of that before. I'm using Look'n'Stop and I don't have to pay for improvements. I would have to pay if a complete new version would come out, but not for other improvements. Have a look here once, there you will see what Frédéric, the developer, is adding (for free) for the users of Look'n'Stop:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=9604

Doesn't sound bad! Others would charge you for that!

Regards,

Patrice