Important Tips
- Check Windows -- Before installing personal
firewall software on a Windows XP computer, be sure that the firewall built into
the Windows XP operating system is turned off.
- Just One, Not Two -- Never use two
software firewalls at the same time. Completely uninstall one before
installing another. Use the vendor's uninstall utility or if not
available, use the Windows XP add/remove software tool in the
control panel. You can use a hardware firewall including a
Wired Router,
Wireless Router or Broadband Gateway.
- Patches & Updates -- As soon as
your firewall is installed, check the vendor's website for patches
and updates. If the firewall offers an automatic update function,
turn it on.
- Testing --
After you install a firewall, be sure to check it
with an online service like
Security Space
to make sure that it is configured correctly. Testing
your firewall is the only sure way to tell that your computer is really being
protected.
- Prices -- See our custom Personal Firewall Price List
powered by Amazon.com
Comparative reviews of personal firewall software:
-
Get the best firewall, then scan your PC — free, Ian "Gizmo"
Richards, Windows Secrets, July 31, 2008
-
Firewall Challenge,
Matousec, April 2008 -- Comodo, Tall Emu Online Armor,
ProSecurity, and Outpost Firewall Pro 2008 are rated excellent.
-
Firewalls,
Consumer Search, January 2008, a summary of 27 reviews of 29
products -- Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0, Online Armor Personal Firewall
v2, and Outpost Firewall Pro 6.0.
Top Picks Personal
Firewalls
Checkpoint's ZoneAlarm Pro
retail product includes network, program and
operating system firewalls, identify theft protection, anti-spyware,
privacy protection, game mode, essential email security, wireless PC
protection, and smart defense service (but no antivirus). For reviews of the
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite,
that includes antivirus, see our
Suites page.
Sunbelt Personal Firewall
freeware and retail versions, includes packet filter, file integrity
control, application communication and launch controls, network and
host-based intrusion prevention systems, identity theft protection,
script, referrer, cookies, ad and pop-up windows blocking, and
statistics. Free download, full function for 30 days, then reverts to
the free version features or purchase to keep all features.
-
TechSupportAlert's top choice, updated February 10, 2008
-
Terry's Computer Tips
review, July 7, 2007
-
Personal Computer World
review, Paul Rowlingson, July 20, 2006
Tall Emu Online-Armor,
freeware and retail versions, offers excellent leak test protection; see Matousec.com.
Comodo Firewall
Pro
freeware, PC Magazine Editor's Choice December 2007, included
in "The Best Freeware", PC World, January 31, 2007. Note:
For better protection, install the
advanced version, not the basic one.
More Personal Firewalls
These
are listed in alpha order and have been reviewed.
CA Personal Firewall,
Computer Associates
Jetico Personal Firewall for 32/64-bit Windows is
payware; Freeware for is also available.
Lavasoft Personal Firewall
Look'n'Stop
Soft4Ever
Microsoft Windows Firewall, free, built into Windows XP-SP2 and Vista
NeT Firewall,
NT Resources Kernel
- Vnunet.com
review,
Paul Rowlingosn, February 15, 2005
Norman
Personal Firewall, see review of Norman
Internet Control on our Suites page.
OutpostPro Firewall,
Agnitum
Preventon
PrivateFirewall,
Privacyware
- SnapFiles (formerly WebAttack)
review,
August 3, 2001
- FireWall.net
review
VisNetic Firewall,
Deerfield
Webroot Desktop Firewall, now freeware
-
Webroot Desktop Firewall 5.5, Commercial personal firewall, for
free, Chris Wiles, VNUNet, October 16, 2007
- Webroot
Desktop Firewall, Jason Saundalkar, ITP Technology, April 25,
2006
Firewalls Moved to Internet
Security
Suites
Firewalls from these vendors are no longer available as separate products, see our
Internet Security Suites page for reviews.
Bullguard
Internet Security
-- includes antivirus, anti-spyware, spam-filter,
firewall, backup and support.
F-Secure
Internet Security includes anti-virus,
anti-spyware,
firewall, anti-spam, anti-phishing, zero day, parental controls.
Kaspersky Internet Security
includes anti-malware (virus, spyware, trojan,
worm, root kits), zero-day, anti-spam, anti-phishing, parental controls.
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus
is only available in their three suites: VirusScanPlus, Internet Security Suite,
and Total Protection Suite.
Norton Internet Security and Norton 360
from Symantec include antivirus, antispyware, email
scanning, anti-phishing, root kit detection, identity protection, web
site authentication, network monitoring, firewall protection, automatic
backup and restore (360), 2GB secured online storage (360), PC
performance tune ups (360), automatic updates, embedded support,
optional anti-spam and parental controls.
Panda
Internet Security has anti-malware (virus,
spyware, adware, phishing, root kit, spam), malicious web pages,
personal firewall, identity protection, parental control, backup and
restore, PC tune up, automatic updates.
Trend Micro Internet Security
has antivirus, anti-spyware, email scan, root kits, intrusion blocking,
anti-spam, personal firewall, home network protection, website
authentication, parental controls, data theft prevention, free support.
Personal Firewall Products
Not Reviewed
Product descriptions on software download
sites do not qualify as reviews. Nor do end user write ups on sites like
Amazon because they seldom include firewall testing.
8Signs Note: Replaces the ConSeal PC Firewall that was acquired by
McAfee in 1999.
Ashampoo Firewall Pro (12-22-2006)
and
Ashampoo Firewall Free (4-10-2007)
Iolo Personal Firewall
