Definitive Best Firewall

[Si Veteran]

Please use this thread as a reference for this topic, as time goes on and availabilty changes, the poll will be updated.

[Darnell 0216]

I use Sunbelt KPF 4.2.3 Build 912. Sunbelt fubar'd the last release (4.3 Build 268) and they know it. On hundreds of systems (incl mine) it fails to work to the point of disabling the desktop and the team refuses to do anything about it. Then I find out GameGuard (though I rarely play games with it) released a patch that's incompatible with it, causing game exits or BSOD's. Figured it's time to give another firewall a go. So I figured I'd drop by trusty ol' Neowin to see what everyone prefers.

I have to agree that ZAP was better about 2-3 years ago when they were just a firewall with Version/App Behavior Monitoring (ZAP 3.x?). Yeah the TV crashes were a pain but I lived with em. It got bloated and I got tired. Then because ZAP got so bloated, it was no longer compatible with my F-Secure which is all I need for AV. Not in the mood for Norton or McAfee. Bad past experiences.

Comodo looks promising and I might give Outpost (3.5) a try if things aren't to my liking. I don't want 101 features. I just want traffic monitoring, app behavior and the peace of mind knowing if something is going out, I let it out and if it changed versions it's for known reasons.

[monique]

In my personal opinion Outpost is the best

[Viper_Maniac]

I've been using ZoneAlarm 4.5.594.000 pretty much since it came out. All the ones I tried after that version messed up. It either slowed down my pc or internet or wouldn't allow something to run properly. I think the last version I tried was an early v6 version.

Yeah its a little old but its stopped alot of stuff. About 141k intrusions blocked. :)

[Crucify]

WOW, dont even have the best one on the list.

F-Secure Net security.

[flexy123]

WOW, dont even have the best one on the list.

F-Secure Net security.

i cant believe so many voted for Zone Alarm....no question a hardware NAT router is the #1 choice....but the usual i always hear in regards to software firewalls is Kerio 2.15.

It's older but MANY say it's solid and good.

[shtraue]

Using Comodo here. Top of the firewalls, according to this test. And you can't beat the price either, - free!

[Mando]

hardware firewall in router (USR9105) & Kerio Sunbelt here. (used on all 4 workstations)

does the job without too much of a perf hit. :yes: (even on the kids P3 600mhz laptop)

[Swift_Monkey]

Another vote for Comodo Firewall (Y)

[Orien]

Windows Vista Firewall + Router NAT Firewall

[kinetix63 Veteran]

Thread Closed and replaced with a fresh one for 2007