Last time we asked for your favorite Antivirus software. About 40% (nearly 300 votes) of voters have choosen AVG FREE Antivirus. Another great finding was that 3 out of top 4 choices were free ones.
Today we want to run a similar poll and find out what’s your favorite firewall software. Or whether you have one at all.

Similar to Antivirus, Firewall has an essential role in keeping your PC secure from online threats. Unfortunately not many people realize that. So the purpose of this poll is to find out what is the most popular firewall software used by MUO users. Again, please vote !
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First, i use the firewall built into mac os x. Secondly, firewalls are not that necessary for most home users that sit behind a NAT firewall.
I meant NAT router not firewall.
Poll is a little misguiding, i choses none, even tho i use the built in one from win XP, since the other option was live onecare which you have to pay for and i don’t use.
Like stephen, i’m behind NAT, as are 90% of all internet user in France that use some form of ADSL Box to connect to the internet. I suppose other countries on adsl use the same scheme: User/Users (lan, wifi, usb)->Adsl nat router (not simple modem)->phone line->internet
There is an answer for the inbuild firewall as well. It is “Windows Live Onecare / Standard Windows Firewall”, as both of them come from Microsoft and probably use the same detection rules.
As about NAT, sorry never heard of it.
I use NOD32
I used to use Comodo Firewall which I agree is probably the best free firewall out there but since I’m a pretty careful user of the internet, I find that the built-in Windows firewall does enough to keep me secure.
I am behind a NAT too, so I have no firewall installed in my computers at home.
Online Armour by Tall Emu.
Zone Alarm Pro 6.5
I use PC Tools Firewall Plus (free)
I second the vote for PC Tools Firewall Plus - relatively simple to use and not terribly bloated.
Comodo is easily the best firewall out there. I am sure more and more people are getting to know about it and using it instead of the horribly paralysed ZoneAlarm Free firewall.
And Comodo is already leading the polls!
I use firestarter on my ubuntu. Its a great firewall tool for linux. Provides lots of options to configure and when i tested it online, it gave good results.
Link ?
Firestarter isn’t exactly a firewall. It is just a graphical makeover of Ubuntu’s inbuilt complex firewall (which is turned on by default).
And link : http://www.fs-security.com/
Thanks.
NAT’s are great, everyone should get them if they have the money, even if you’re only one person. The security it gives is worth the price!
Firewall in Eset Security Suite v3.
On my laptop I use Vista’s built in firewall which is fine as I also sit behind a router.
I use Comodo on my family PC (XP) and although it’s a great Firewall it’s also a pain in the backside - demanding your attention every 5minutes : is this link OK?
OMG IE’s trying to connect to the internet is this OK?
OMG Adobe Acrobat’s trying to to the internet is this OK? etc….
even though I checked the boxes that say “Remember my answer/Use this for the next [n] responses” (don’t quote me on the exact wording there).
I know there’s an option to stop “learning” but do I want to turn that off?
BTW - I would never go back to using McAfee/Norton as they are now so bloated and RAM hungry.
O/T ….I also use Nod32 antivirus which is awesome, the UI leaves a lot to be desired but it is very unobtrusive, light, quick and VERY effective.
I know what you mean, that’s the only reason I stopped using it. It takes too much of time to configure it.
I had a problem with that to begin with as well. However, you have the option to make the programs a “Trusted Application” in that window that pops up. Once I started doing that, I dont get those pop-ups any more and the program now runs completely in the background.
I don’t think it’s pain in the backside. Defense+ uses HIPS, so it goes into learning mode for the first 2-3 days and then it runs very smoothly. And if you want to stop those alerts, just select “Treat this as a trusted application”.
I use Comodo Firewall Pro. What I like about it:
- Free!
- Blocks incoming and outgoing
- Application protection
- Currently updated
- Many other features
The only downside is that their interface to see whats currently going on (in/out) on your system is not very informative. I like Kerio Firewall’s interface before they went pay.
I have an old (free) version Tiny Personal firewall which absolutely rocks. Nothing gets in or out with out me knowing about it.
It’s Online Armor for me (I use the free version). Works well with NOD32’s anti-virus. I’m using XP. Vista support by OA is coming soon, I hear.
I use Sunbelt, formerly Kerio, free and works very well
SuSEFirewall on machine and Smoothwall 3.0 as perimeter firewall.
Still se the free SYGATE Personal Firewall from many years ago…does the job efficiently and have never had problems…
Sygate Firewall
Great poll, Never heard of Comodo before. I’ve been using Zone Alarm forever.
I use McAfee.
Zone Alarm for me. I’ve been using it for a couple years now, and I have nothing to complain about; its been working perfectly since I installed it.
You guys who use Comodo should look carefully at the terms and conditions, section 3.2, Authorization, under Use of Services. Sorry, I’m not going to give any unknown third-party that kind of control over my files and settings. Talk about scary!
I use Windows Live OneCare, and while I pay for the service, it does not slow down my system or delete files on me.
Hey, thanks for heads up. I never bothered to read those EULA agreements, but now i am beginning to get paranoid abt them.
Sunbelt (kerio) personal firewall free version. Surprised nobody has mentioned it yet since it’s a great and unobtrusive firewall.
I think couple of people metnioned it as well.
I use Eset Smart Security 3.0 (combined Firewall/Antivirus).
I also have a NAT router. I have used several different firewalls over the years. Presently I use Kerio.
I use Sunbelt Kerio personal firewall. Very happy with it.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Moon Secure Antivirus. It’s unobtrusive, works great, doesn’t block the stuff you don’t want blocked, up to date with its virus database. It has on-access protection and can scan any folder or drive.
And it’s free and released under GPL.
ZoneAlarm Security Suite 7.0.470
Behind NAT and also use McAfee Security Center which includes a firewall.
NOD32 is my firewall of choice, - well that and the inbuilt Firewall in my Router! as for NAT, well NAT isn’t really a firewall at all, its pretty transparent really, and a Firewall is really just for bandwidth and port hiding… the real threats come in via Http etc and bypass firewalls completely. A better question should have been “who uses Intrusion detection” and where. - Again I use NOD and Firekeeper (inside of the Firefox browser)
I use Comodo. It is one of the easiest one to configure and use. Never hassle me that much.
I use Vista firewall but actively use the Vista FirewallControl api for rules creation etc.
[...] you have your top antivirus program to keep your system files virus-free and a firewall software to block hackers from connecting to your computer. You think that’s enough? Think again. Both [...]