My OA Premium paid runs out in a few weeks. Is it worthwile to renew the license, use the free version or even switch to maybe Private Firewall? I am using a stand alone machine for the Internet, no networking. Frank
The free version of OA and PF (which is always free) are my own personal top choices in the category. I've run each since my OA Premium subscription ran out but am currently running OA as it has several features I've come to depend upon (though PF is now incorporating more of those type features). That said, nobody can answer the question based upon the information you provided. It all depends on your operating system, your individual needs (such as banking mode etc.) and how your system responds to each of the programs.
If you are under 32bits try Comodo Fw or privatefw (both free) if you are under x64 try Comodo, if you don't like any of them renew your license, if you are ok spending money in a FW+HIPS try also Outpost Pro. A recent HIPS test, take a look: http://www.anti-malware.ru/firewall_test_outbound_protection_2011
Forking over your hard-earned cash would all depend on if they will continue to update the databases throughout your next license period. The files (a2wl.dat, a2trust,dat, server.dat, etc. etc.) are updated at least daily and are for the Free and Premium versions. So, if you go with Free and they dump the updates support, for example, in Feb 2012, so what? Also if you go Free, you give up Premium's Advanced and Banking Modes.
Thank you for all replies This computer uses WinXP only and is used mainly for Internet-Browsing. I'm not doing any banking stuff via Internet, that is done on a different machine using HBCI. Guess, I give Private FW a try on my test computer. There is still time left and I wanted to hear some opinions Frank
Confusion in relation to the announcements about OA++. So then, your response can be interpreted as "We'll continue to fully support OA Premium and Free"? Thanks!