Looking to replace Zone Alarm Free and need advice

Hi, I have used Zone Alarm free as my firewall for a long time and have been really happy with it. But I use a several year old version of ZA and on XP machines only. I am planning to get a new Windows 7 laptop shortly and had originally planned to use ZA free again but after looking into I don't think I will like the current version like the old and the older is not compatible with Windows 7. So I am looking for recommendations for something else. I liked ZA free as I found it very easy to use and simple by being based on applications. Any other free firewall like that? I am leaning towards just using the built in Windows 7 firewall but was not sure how easy that would be. I had ZA set up to notify me on everything that tries to connect to internet. For example any time I open a pdf Adobe would try for access and I would deny. Similar with other programs and I even have it set up to prompt me for the browser trying access which is usually the only thing I allow. But are there any pop-up prompts using the built in Windows 7 firewall? And can it be set up to show them?

I also thought maybe a good option instead of configuring the Windows 7 firewall directly would be to use one of the programs I see that give a much easier front end to control it. Mainly Windows 7 Firewall Control 5.0, Tinywall, or Windows Firewall Notifier. Can any of those three be set up to show pop-up warnings similar to how I use ZA free? I also wondered for these 3 programs or some of them that if they are using the built in Windows Firewall does that mean they don't embed anything deeply on install? I really mean are they simple and clean to uninstall? As I had thought some firewall's are hard to uninstall and leave some stuff behind but if any of these or all are easy in that aspect I would be more likely to at least try them. Any of these recommended or any other free firewall's as an easy ZA free replacement?

Thanks in advance for any help.

roark

 

I have found that PrivateFirewall is a good replacement for ZA. Check out the posts here to get more info.

 

if you want Firewall only there is Fortknox i Liked it but it's not a beginner Friendly

PrivateFirewall on the other Hand Can Be Both for advanced users and a user Friendly

also there is Comodo is very user Friendly and Secure and amazing Support Forum
there is also Online armor Good and Secure But can be naggy sometime

 

Thanks for the replies thus far. I was leaning towards trying one of those firewalls I mentioned that uses built in Windows Firewall but I will check out PrivateFirewall as you suggest. I did look briefly earlier but it seemed to not be only a firewall. Can those other features all be turned off easily so can be used as free firewall only? And it is completely free or is there adware or nagware to upgrade?

Thanks again.

roark

 

I'd recommend either Comodo Firewall or Online Armour.

 

last time I used it I think there was an option to turn off the system monitoring module and there was no adware or nagware. Its a freeware and actively developed as far as I know

 

Plus one on private firewall, you can turn off the hips part.
But that would reduce the beautiful part

And for paid alternatif, you can always use LnS

 

You seem concerned with ease of use and have been happy with ZA Free.

Okay your options are many:

Read the posts here about "other firewalls" and try to decide if you want to climb the rule making learning curve. If you want to spend some effort and learn about rules the "free" imbedded Windows FW in windows 7 gives you that chance. But this is NOT easy.

Other options:

1) Stay with ZA and pay your fee
2) Use one of the free packages offered by the main line vendors
3) Most important don't pay too soon pick one and trial it for 30 days or what ever they offer.
4) Stay behind a router while messing about.


I use OP FW Pro myself and it is a bit easier than Windows for rule management. But it does generate all the rule for you during install and a few days under learning mode. Then you can slowly tighten the rules as you learn more.

If you already know about rules I'm sorry as this reply "assumes" you don't as yet.