What is the strongest free FW for security/protection?

[NormanF]

Originally Posted by Beethoven1770

i would go for the free version myself then,suite seems a bit high.
Why do you hate it?

The suite has the highly regarded Kaspersky AV engine. You can save $20 off the Kapersky 2012 IS version with the Zone Alarm AV/Firewall suite.

[NormanF]

Originally Posted by JoeBlack40

Have you tried it lately?I guess not,otherwise you wouldn't make such a statement.Its OS firewall is included now in the free version (now it's called Application Control).Not a full blown HIPS,but surely safe enough to use it along with an AV and SBIE if you like.So i do recommend ZA free.
And in about 2 month of use,i've seen only one time one nag.But not on start
up.

Application Control in ZA Firewall is more like an IDS. I run OA Free Armor's full blown HIPS alongside it and that provides full coverage.

[php111]

Originally Posted by NormanF

Application Control in ZA Firewall is more like an IDS. I run OA Free Armor's full blown HIPS alongside it and that provides full coverage.

Do you recommend using the full blown free OA FW with OA HIPS without any other FW/HIPS running along the side?

[NormanF]

Originally Posted by php111

Do you recommend using the full blown free OA FW with OA HIPS without any other FW/HIPS running along the side?

Sure... you can enable the OA FW with HIPS or run it as a standard firewall. You can choose your level of protection.

[wat0114]

Originally Posted by php111

I'm on a Win 7 32-bit (x86) desktop PC.

You've got a great, free firewall sitting right at your doorstep.

[zip]

I have three layers of security plus Norton DNS.

AVG Free, Online Armor Free, and Mbam Pro.

Any malware will have to be very determined to get threw these layers.

These layers don't slow my system down.

[Chuck57]

Comodo FW using Chiron's setup and free AVG 2013 here, with Comodo Dragon browser and Win Vista with all updates and only 2G RAM, all sitting behind a hardware firewall. No slowdowns or problems.

[Sm3K3R]

Originally Posted by Chuck57

Comodo FW using Chiron's setup and free AVG 2013 here, with Comodo Dragon browser and Win Vista with all updates and only 2G RAM, all sitting behind a hardware firewall. No slowdowns or problems.

I have used AVG 2012 free in last 6 months .On two 32 bit OS-es ,W7 and XP ,i had to manually uninstall the thing from my PC-s. I wanted to remove it after the last incident.Their uninstall tool simply did not worked ,neither the add/remove.
No problem on x64 with the uninstall though.

Did they fixed the startup bugs/issues with AVG 2013 ?!

[Chuck57]

Originally Posted by Sm3K3R

I have used AVG 2012 free in last 6 months .On two 32 bit OS-es ,W7 and XP ,i had to manually uninstall the thing from my PC-s. I wanted to remove it after the last incident.Their uninstall tool simply did not worked ,neither the add/remove.
No problem on x64 with the uninstall though.

Did they fixed the startup bugs/issues with AVG 2013 ?!

No problems with startup here. It's a bit slow, but I haven't had a problem yet, and I've had it since it came out. I'm on 32 bit Win Vista. Not memory heavy, scans fairly quickly and I'm happy so far.

[gery]

Originally Posted by zip

I have three layers of security plus Norton DNS.

AVG Free, Online Armor Free, and Mbam Pro.

Any malware will have to be very determined to get threw these layers.

These layers don't slow my system down.

i had the same using for years and kept me safe . i never got infected

[itman]

Use the Windows 7 firewall in default config. if your behind a router with a good firewall. That is all you really need.

Yes, all outbound traffic will be allowed. So what? If your PC is clean of malware, you don't have to worry about outbound connections.

If you do a lot of Internet financial transactions, buy Zemana Antilogger.

[MasterTB]

I'm using Private Firewall alongside Avast Free (version 7) and I haven't seen any conflicts at all.

What's most important, the latest version of PFW removed all the bugs I complained about for years. Your PC is fully stealthed and the rules created (automatically) are not as from other firewalls allow all-to and from, they have fine tuned a lot of the windows services too.

Of course, it also has IPV6 so you won't come short there either. I fully recommend it. The only downside is the lack of language support, it only has English.

[Flexigav]

Originally Posted by Woody777

Private Firewall has problems with Avast & Win 7 last I heard. That leaves online Armor, Outpost SS but you have to disable the AV & Malware protection . You can also try Zpne Alarm Free. It is becomeing difficult to put stand alone AVs & Firewall together unless they are in a suite. At least that is what I feel.

I am trialling Private Firewall on Windows 7 (64) currently. It is working fine so far, however there is a learning phase (for both Private Firewall and myself) where you can choose to let "Personal Firewall" allow or block traffic based on allowing it for observation over a predetermined period of time (learning time), or you can have it prompt you for such decisions.

Once you have worked out what rules to apply to Windows services and other existing utilities and applications the process becomes easier. I like the way "Private Firewall" groups services and applications in the rules user interface section.

I believe it is a secure and stable program once it has established itself (learnt your system). It is free for home use. It also encompasses an executable behavioral monitor that I think can be enabled or disabled separately from the firewall to make it a more comprehensive HIPS application and in theory, will do away with the need to use these signature based AV programs. I have only just started my trial, so can't say much else about it yet!

[zip]

Is there a way to stop the splash screen at startup of Privatefirewall?

[MasterTB]

File > Settings > Disable startup splash screen.

And you're done.

[zip]

Thank you, MasterTB.

[MasterTB]

Np. Glad to help.

[jo3blac1]

Originally Posted by kdcdq

I am a strong believer, user, and promoter of Private Firewall. It is, however, quirky ( ) when first installing, but after you get past that, it works well. If you are interested in PF, I strongly suggest you read the PF postings in the Firewall section here at Wilders before you install it.

I 2nd that. PFW is best installed on a clean windows system. After that you will have zero problems.

[Escalader]

Originally Posted by php111

Hey everyone,

I use Avast for my AV, and besides Comodo FW which causes problems with Avast. What free FW is known to be the strongest for security/protection? I'm also a uTorrent user. I'm on a Win 7 32-bit (x86) desktop PC.

I appreciate any info.

Thank you,

I also don't have a router.

Get a router.

BUT the answer is windows 7 2 way FW properly set up to block executables that dont deserve to access the www and hardened.

[wat0114]

Originally Posted by Escalader

BUT the answer is windows 7 2 way FW properly set up to block executables that dont deserve to access the www and hardened.

When the outbound block option is enabled, it blocks everything already by default except those applications that have an allow rule created and enabled for them. Iow, it's a whitelist concept, so block rules are unnecessary.

[Amit]

Online Armor of course.

[Escalader]

Originally Posted by wat0114

When the outbound block option is enabled, it blocks everything already by default except those applications that have an allow rule created and enabled for them. Iow, it's a whitelist concept, so block rules are unnecessary.

That's good IF the op user knows which exe need a rule and which don't.

My policy grants zero cred to vendor defined white lists. But this method is NOT everybodies cup of tea!

But yes, with no rule no connect. The other issue is leaks where an executable without a rule that should be blocked by the white list sneaks an access by transfering data to a exe with a rule that is "white"

It is not white in my view if vendor logic lets that happen!

Right now I'm trying to rein in Roboform and my FW is ignoring it's own settings in one case. I'm in a bad mood due to that.

[umbrapolaris]

using Avast free (RT set to scan all files on opening) + Emsisoft AM (RT set to scan on exec) + Online Armor Premium (all features activated) under Diskshot virtualization = quasi-bulletproof protection.

OA free is good enough and will run flawlessly with Avast.

[zip]

Outpost Free is good enough and runs flawlessly with AVG.

I have no doubt Outpost Free will run flawlessly with avast.

Best of all, Outpost Free is 64bit. Online Armor is only 32bit.

[Ring0]

Originally Posted by Escalader

That's good IF the op user knows which exe need a rule and which don't.

It is assumed that there is a minimum knowledge, otherwise there is no point in discussions. So.
You know from experience that your PC doing the same although there is no internet connection.
Therefore, try to simulate this situation.
INPUT DROP, OUTPUT DROP, or for Windows -inbound connections: block, outbound connections: block.

Now we'd like a little internet, for browsing we need a browser (IE, FF, Chrome) connections, all right.That's why we make a rule for browser connections, like:Google-Chrome\Outbound\Allow\chrome.exe\TCP\80, 443, done.

So do for the mail client connections, download client, windows update etc. No system rule, do not care anything out of what you need for your desires.

The average user needing 10-15 outbound connections rule, eliminating unwanted in-out connections, eliminated the mythological fear of boogeyman which houses the deep darkness of the net and that just waiting to eat the fool.

And that's it.