Searching for simple firewall

Blue,

now that you've run CHX-I, what are the cons you've noticed, if any?

I don't mean lack of features like app filtering (it is a packet filter only by design, after all), but things like oddities/issues/slowdowns/etc if there are any?

For example: do you get high cpu usage spikes with CHX-I (CHX-I grabbing a lot of cycles)?

Have you noticed any significant drop in ethernet throughput with CHX-I filtering?

Or anything else?

And which version are you runnig (v2 series or v3 betas)?

Thanks for all the comments, already in advance

 

halycon,

I only tried Jammer, not the combo with CHX-I,

Blue

 

I have (had) a firewall that does (but did) what the original poster was looking for. Controlling the programs which try to acces the Internet and give a warning if programs have changed. However it came with my hardware router and so not free for download. It worked well for me quite some time untill I started using NOD32 (thanks Wilders ) The FW is fighting with NOD32, and especially with IMON. I send this issue to my router manufacturer for now, but no solution yet from their site. (though quick response, thanks AVM).
So I disabled the FW for now and installed x-wall (free version) and it does as far as I can see now the same as my former FW did, however no issues with NOD32.
Just my 2 cents.

Gerard

 

I use CHX on GPRS as well as T3, unlike any other firewalls I have tried, there is no slowdowns whatsoever or resource consumption, downloaded 4gb in 3 days and there was and it was totally stable, the best part is that Net Meter shows uniform graph unlike other firewalls where there would be peaks and dips.

 

I have not had one problem with it either. Very light and very fast for me. I highly recommend it...

 

After a couple of weeks of testing I decided to pull the trigger and go with LooknStop. No compatibility issues on any of the machines which it was trialed on: a mix of NOD32 and KAV for AV, BOClean AT, and RegDefend with a mix of simple surfing to heavy gaming. Fast. Does what I want. Works well and stays out of the way. It's not a simple firewall per se, but it can be run that way, which is what I do.

Only downside, from my perspective, was lack of a family type package license for home use.

Blue

 

Wish they would address this. One reason why I did not go with it.

 

I have to admit that it gave me a little pause. It wasn't a trivial expense since there are 5 PC's at home and from a support perspective I like similar configurations. I would have loved it if one of the free or less expensive options did what I wanted, but they didn't as well as LnS did. So it came down to the feature set compromises that I was willing incur vs. the price I was willing to pay. Obviously, feature set won this round.

I realize that pricing is one of the hardest things to really get right for a commercial enterprise, especially for something like software where the cost for incremental sales can be quite modest. At the end of the day I try to assess whether I've received a good deal for the money spent. Based on my needs and desires, I'd say it's an unqualified yes for this purchase.

Blue

 

I trust you did inform them of this. Given the number of users now running multiple PCs, a lot of security vendors are surprisingly backward about offering family licencing. DiamondCS, Frisk, Agnitum and PSC seem to be shining exceptions.

 

Can't remember now. I think I may have done.

There were other issues but that was a case of sorting out, but in view of the price I did not follow through.