PC Tools or Webroot (link provided)?

So I'm still trying to come up with a fw for Vista. I know Vista's is acceptable but would like to try one of these. Used Comodo for years but kind of went over my head so months ago I switched to OA free on the XP desktop.

http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-products-desktopfirewall.html

 

I checked the link and see that webroot claims vista support including 64 bit.

IF, you go that way PLEASE image your setup before trying it out and only go for a trial version eg no money spent till you know it is happy with your other SW.

I had bad expereince with the Webroot xp version and got my money back. IMO it is worth what they charge for it. I do use their window washer product.

On PC tools I did use their FW and liked it better but I'm not current on their vista efforts. Suggest you join their forum first an lurk to see what others are saying first.

OA's vista version is in beta testing mode at this point.

If I had my own vista mc, I would set the MS FW to two way and do some basic tweaking if it allows, and wait for the vista FW dust to settle for 3rd party FW's. But again this is just an opinion

 

Did you notice that it is free now? Not sure what is up with that.

 

Yes, I did notice and that is what it was worth on my setup.

 

Hi ratchet


I use PC Tools Firewall Plus ... And I really like this Firewall

http://www.pctools.com/

However... Word Of Warning!

There have been some problems with the latest version of PC tools Firewall Plus : v4
All to do with the - Enhanced Security Verification.


So if you do decide to go for - PC tools Firewall Plus...
My advice is - Hold out for a week or two ... Until they bring out the next build.

The current build / version is - 4.0.0.40
So wait until the next number up is released - OK

Note!
I am using... PC tools Firewall Plus : 4.0.0.40
Here : http://www.pctools.com/firewall/
And for me it's been absolutely fine... Except for Enhanced Security Verification
I've had to switch Enhanced Security Verification - OFF
This isn't too much of a problem ... As Enhanced Security Verification is New to v4 anyway.
v3 did Not have Enhanced Security Verification.

Enhanced Security Verification is kind of like an extra security feature ... To prevent Code Injection.
I'm not a firewall expert ... But I think Enhanced Security Verification is HIPS
V3 did have a Code Injection setting... But it wasn't turned on by default, like Enhanced Security Verification is!

When they finally get it working right...
You can have Enhanced Security Verification set to Normal Mode or Quiet Mode.

Enhanced Security Verification - Normal Mode .... A lot of pop Ups!
Enhanced Security Verification - Quiet Mode .... Not as many pop Ups!
Enhanced Security Verification - OFF .... Hardly any Pop ups!


The problem at the moment with Enhanced Security Verification ....
High CPU usage .... My Core 2 Quad CPU would constantly spike at 100%
Over active Hard Drive .... My Normally silent Hard Drive started to sound like a hairdryer
Programs slower to open and close
And for some people.... Computer / Program - Freezes

I'll be really pleased when they've fixed Enhanced Security Verification.
But For Now...
With Enhanced Security Verification turned OFF .... PC Tools Firewall Plus is working perfectly fine for me

 

Ok, thanks Zeena!

 

I wouldn't trust ANY product from Pctools, for a large number of reasons.

In the past the Webroot firewall had a 'memory leak' (don't ask me what it is, there are others who know more about that). I'm not sure what the current status is.

 

Has anyone tried the latest webroot firewall to see if the memory leak still exists? I ran it on Vista a few months back and the leak was definitely there then.

 

So today I finally try Webroot Desktop Firewall on a Vista Home Premium notebook while waiting for the update of the PCTools Fw as Zeena suggested. It was unlike any firewall I've ever tried, major pain!!! Normally firewalls analyze all of the applications and pretty much give permissions for what you already have installed. Webroot didn't appear to even find them all. I never could get any browsers to open sandboxed, even after manually listing Sandboxie and giving it full permissions. Maybe it was just me, I don't know. It's gone now, ready to give PCT a whirl!

 

I've been using PC Tools Firewall Plus on Vista (32 bit) for a few months with "Enhanced Security Verification" enabled without problems.

 

I've left it enabled also with no problems.

 

It's the same version so I doubt it. Same problem with Dynamic Security Agent. Did you write to PrivacyWare support? When I contacted them, they were in denial that there was anything wrong with the program (citing "millions of downloads" with no complaints. )

 

Does PC tools firewall support 2 way support?

 

2 way as in incoming/outgoing traffic? Yes.

 

These guys charged me twice for a yearly renewal of Spyware Doctor (3 months apart).

I had also told them I did not want to be renewed again before the second charge appeared on my credit card.

Still I have received NO REFUND for a service I did not purchase and they haven't bothered to respond to my emails.

This is poor behaviour from a security company.