Comments on: Firewalls for Windows Approaching Fruition

By: tmarket

tmarket — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:23:18 +0000

I install Comodo 3, works OK except when trying to access office VPN. Blocks access even when Firewall is disabled. Had to un-install to get VPN access working. A quick search revealed others facing the same issue.

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By: dale.gj

dale.gj — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:07:24 +0000

After my negative experience with Outpost 2008, I decided to try the free version of Online Armor. I had a strange experience during installation, that required two passes through the trusted programs list, but after that, the installation went well.

So far, I’m pleased with the operation. I love the GUI that tells me what programs are accessing what with what data rate.

I have always practiced safe hex, so I’ve had little need for a firewall, But like all insurance, it never hurts to have it.

By: LakeMichSr

LakeMichSr — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:52:16 +0000

I have been running the trial version of Online Armor AV+ (2.1.0.31) for 3 days with XP Pro, SP2 on a home built with AMD Athlon X2 5600. I really like the GUI and learning mode for applications has been relatively painless. The biggest plus is boot time. My computer boots nearly 4 times faster than previously. My previous firewall/AV was ZoneAlarm Security Suite and this has to be the culprit causing long start up times. I had grown very unhappy with ZA for a number of reasons. I will continue with the trial, but right now OA looks like a winner.

By: Traxless

Traxless — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:33:09 +0000

Online Armor (2.1.0.31) Free version with Windows Media Center 2002, SP2 on a Dell XPS computer (Core 2 Duo 6400).

Installation was smooth, fast, and straight forward. It was as easy as any installation I have ever had with a firewall. It has run quietly and without a single issue for 2 busy weeks. The online forum seems to offer timely and thoughtful responses as I have lurked about the forum at »support.online-armor.com/forums/index.php.

Online Armor is playing very nicely with IE 7.0.5730.11 and Firefox 2.0.0.11. The AV on this computer is Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic (free) and I have not experienced any problems with this combination either. Btw, this AV has a very responsive and especially helpful forum at »forum.avira.com/index.php.

I am very pleased with this combination of FW and AV. Btw, I have used ZA (early versions), XP firewall, and Comodo before the recent release plus a few other FWs whose names elude in the moment.

Hope this helps.

By: bwaverman

bwaverman — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:40:57 +0000

l had a similar experience with outpost pro 2008 as dale.gj.
it worked fine at first but slowly showed an increase in system slowdown and finally a freeze ( solved with cont/alt/del ).
maybe webroot’s free firewall is worth a look. and what are the chances that microsoft will provide good outbound protection on its vista firewall at default settings when sp1 is released early next year? but then again every vista user has his/her own wish-list for sp1. ( vista+nodav3.0 )

By: dale.gj

dale.gj — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:53:26 +0000

I have to take back my recommendation of Outpost 2008 for now. After my posting, I proceeded to have system hangs with lockups — couldn’t do anything but hard reset or power off. In each case, my system would run fine for awhile, then suddenly lock up.

I restored to an image made before installing Outpost 2008, when Comodo 3.0 was in use. I’ll probably retry Outpost after the next update.

By: dale.gj

dale.gj — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:23:17 +0000

I have used Comodo 2.x products off and on for some time, but I don’t like 3.0. I doesn’t remember my requests to treat specific progams as “trusted”, unless I change to training mode. The program did not suggest it, but I found it to be true.

Before Comodo, I used Outpost Firewall Pro. It seemed to work well enough in earlier versions, but there were too many nags. I recently downloaded and installed Outpost Pro 2008, and I really like it. I plan to stick with it. I have not had any issues with the spyware scan, as mentioned elsewhere.

Other than the antispyware component, Outpost Firewall Pro 2008 is pure firewall. Scot, I strongly recommend that you consider it.

By: O

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:41:03 +0000

I have been beta-testing Comodo Firewall PRO v3 in its various version … all the way through v 3.0.13.xxx. Please note that I am not employed by Comodo.
I use SuSE 10.3, BSD, and Vista BUS on my laptop.

Since the FINAL release of Comodo Firewall PRO v3, there have been 2 updates of 3.0.13.xxx - 3.0.13.268.

Now, there is v 3.0.14.276. This is much improved in both XP and Vista.
Historically, prior to v3, most folks experience has been one of constant application nagging. This has been significantly reduced.

Also, during the installation while using the ” Comodo Firewall Pro Configuration Wizard”, I chose the “Advanced Firewall with Defense” option –> “No, Let me answer the firewall alerts” –> I allow RDesktop –> “Custom Settings” –> “Average Protection”.

The above approach will verify ONCE every application you deem appropriate for the firewall categories. If the dll does change, Comodo will flag that … that is good.
I did have Comodo treat Firefox as a WebBrowser and Trusted app.

Overall, Comodo 3 will require a little more knowledge and setup, but greatly rewarding … and it still passes all the leak tests. Version 3 is a totally different application with a lot of forward thinking in implementation.

I think Outpost Firewall PRO v2008 is another excellent app as well as Online-Armor.
By the way, I use Eset AV 3.0 with Comodo 3.0.14.xxx on Vista … no problems and with minimal nagging.

Regards,
O

By: alnjk

alnjk — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:53:17 +0000

Scott, in reference to Online Armor I would like to mention their unparalleled support provided by their company representative (vs. an appointed moderator) Mike. I have found that he will go to any lengths to resolve whatever issue arises. I have never received such superior support by any other software company.

By: rustyjames

rustyjames — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:16:48 +0000

i will even believe if you tell me its crap, however it DOES REALLY work with vista, so within the small (tiny?) group of firewalls that are free AND vista compatible maybe it is still worth something?

By: bwaverman

bwaverman — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 10:43:48 +0000

Scot, when you make your choice for best firewall can you give us two choices. 1) for xp/2000 and 2) for vista. there seems to be a big divide there.
and maybe it would also be wise to wait until matousec.com comes out with the results of their NEW leak-tests which they are now working on. who knows, there might be some big surprises in store.

By: bwaverman

bwaverman — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:24:39 +0000

matousec.com gives the free firewall from pctools an anti-leak rating of poor. their free anti-malware program is a stripped-down version of spyware doctor.

By: rustyjames

rustyjames — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:56:29 +0000

hi all
would still like someone’s take on pctools software. especially the firewall, but they also have antivirus and antimalware programs all for free with registration.

By: danbest82

danbest82 — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:54:00 +0000

i have been using comodo for a while now. started with comodo 2.4 and then went to beta comoda 3. now using the official release of comodo 3. i love it. performance is great. only thing that gets annoying is its forgetfulness in defense+. sometimes if forgets that i trusted a program and asked if i want to let it do things. i saw that online armor got high leak test scores and had hips detection so i gave it a try. not sure if it’s because i was running threatfire, which is said to be able to work with OA, or just because it doesn’t like my system that it caused any program i wanted to run to crash. back to comodo…. i am using nod32 2.7. i have used avira with system slow downs. kav 7 is not compatable w/ comodo and wont let me install it. outpost is not compatable with things on my pc also and wont let me install. final setup with things running good is nod32 2.7, comodo 3 firewall with defense+, threatfire free, boclean(which gets turned off when gets cpu happy) and peer guardian for downloads.