Hi, I've tried like every free firewall out there. Please recommend me firewall software. Important requirement: native window frame (meaning the usual Window titlebar and border, so I can interact with the app my way and it automatically implements whatever customizations I've made to my system UI). Bad example: http://i.imgur.com/taK0pnh.png Good example: http://i.imgur.com/Pv1vcAo.png Was using Comodo before, but it has a different UI now. Before I used ZoneAlarm, but its new installer fails to start for me. Not that I like the new ZoneAlarm UI either. I've also tried Online Armor, but it can't be installed if you have VirtualBox installed. You may also suggest security suites with firewall functionality. Thanks for all the help
get a real firewall, not this crap from avast, avira, comodo, zonealarm. best firewalls IMO are outpost and OnlineArmor. if you need a smaller one get windows 7 firewall control.
comodo is just bloated stuff with its own methodology. btw, opinions cant be wrong, thats why its called opinion. nevertheless he should use what fit users needs. a proper set up user profile do not need such software. other is russian roulette with admin rights. following thread shows the full bandwidth from top to paranoia https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=111264 there is normally no need for a firewall - or really strong firewall (like Outpost or OA, both with hips). most users can not handle such software nor is usage need (eg. for legal use). keep it simple and small. if a program wants to get out - it gets out. long stories short. BTW in special YOU should not argue here about or for comodo... sigh https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=344576
@Brummelchen. Every firewall developer has their own methodology.Of course there is a need for a firewall,your comment is ludicrous. As for my thread,i was seeking some advice on a connection that is all. Maybe you would care to state what firewalls you would suggest. Thanks.
your comment about not needing a firewall is not true. i think you mean to suggest that most users dont have the time or knowledge needed to properly setup a firewall
I think he's just saying that trying to catch or block outbound traffic is somewhat of a waste of time, since it's possible for determined malware to get past almost any firewall, one way or another, and you can go crazy with HIPS and other things trying to catch such attempts and still never be 100% sure. A simple router is all that's really needed. Just keep the malware off the machine to begin with, and you're good.
I have tried about every free fw and many paid ones, I always come back to Za Free. Za never let's me down.
Monitoring outbound connections helped me discover many Privacy infringing applications that came installed with my Sony Laptop. I Couldn't believe how many application came installed, and ran by default that sent usage data to Sony! I seriously gave some thought to legal litigation. I uninstalled or disabled all of them. I build my own desktops, but I purchased my last Laptop. Big mistake on my part!
Jetico Personal Firewall appears to use the "native window frame" as you call it. It is a good firewall.
Why not Outpost? Sure it has some thing's that needs ironing out, but it's still a very powerful firewall IMO.
Happy to see discussion About Comodo - the first time I stopped using it was because it is a huge resource hog. Google'ing "Comodo cmdagent.exe" shows an infinite number of people complaining about it. It made my system completely unusable at some point. Privacy is the reason for me too. I like when only things I know access Internet. Windows 7 FW is supposed to be able to able to monitor/notify about outgoing traffic, but so far I've failed to make any sense to it - it doesn't seem to be meant for serious use. @Cutting_Edgetech: Using Windows 7 x64. @0strodamus: Thanks for the suggestion, I installed Jetico Firewall and it seems good so far - simple UI, lightweight, no useless firewall-unrelated features. It might be "the one" for me.
if you want privacy cut the cable. ofc a firewall can prohibit unwanted update requests and bound information about your system - your system, not you! on the other hand this can cause failures on your system due fake or failed informations. on the other hand a firewall cant stop information outgoing with your browser. either with header data or javascript or other mechanims. but anytimes this is peanuts versus adware or malware. fail again - a firewall cant defend potential unwanted programs - until it contains a scanning engine for that. today if you throw "firewall" into the mass those combine this word with build-in hips and av-engines (suites). a pure firewall cant handle this and it never have this purpose. so you need to clarify yourself: what is present (installed - now)? what is my purpose? there is no need for second (bad) av-engine in a firewall suite if you have one installed. you dont need a webfilter if you have one installed - eg. noscript/adblock in Firefox. you dont need a hips if you interact with care with your programs and in special with new and unknown programs. get a sandbox/vm to get in touch with new software, so you also can test it out. read my signature - security ain't a single program.
Ill go ahead and recommend Private Firewall for a nice, light weight firewall that meets your GUI needs.
I'm glad I was able to offer something helpful for you. I dropped Jetico when I moved to Windows 7, but after grabbing you some screenshots I'm going to re-evaluate my current setup. I do miss the straight-forward UI and easy rule writing features of Jetico. I'm off to experiment with a new combo in my VM.
In response to some people saying that you don't need a firewall. Firewalls for the most part prevent viruses and malware programs from scanning your system for a security hole to infect itself with. For example MoneyPak "virus" can be prevented with a basic firewall (not Windows) configuration. To the OP, Zone Alarm Pro (not free version) is a nice program but basic configurations can be a pain IMO. Advanced configurations are nicer to implement and it gives direct access to ports with out the loop de loop rule settings like in Comodo. Zone Alarm Pro does not have the UI that you would like but that's something you will have to deal with. I'm not sure if you have noticed but a lot of programs are going to be doing that to distinguish themselves as not being an old program but a vibrate live program. Its a marketing scheme. Also for some reason or another most of the good software firewalls are either free or bundled in a security package.
Why not try Outpost free version, its the older version one i recommended for years before i started firewall hopping one to another.. http://www.filehippo.com/download_outpost_firewall/ Then after its installed they'll offer you the pro version for 9 or 10 bucks.. Thanks.. Hogndog
My router contains a firewall, attacks r *pwnd* by design. Outpost told me no inbound attack, never. but in moderns times with hotspots and other connections people dont care about and the simplest way ist to give away control to an unknown program which calls itself a "firewall". my choice would be a wlan router if i need wifi outside.