What Firewall Software do you Use ? [Poll]

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.

Firewall Software

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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Got something to say ? Post in comments below.

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Aibek Esengulov

The guy behind MakeUseOf.com. Follow him and MakeUseOf on Twitter @MakeUseOf. For more details check out MakeUseOf about page.

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  • Stephen

    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.

    • Stephen

      I meant NAT router not firewall. :)

  • Robert

    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

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      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. :-)

  • darkkosmos

    I use NOD32 :)

  • http://samuelalmeida.wordpress.com sja

    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.

  • White_Duke

    I am behind a NAT too, so I have no firewall installed in my computers at home.

  • http://aussierodney.com/ Rodney Fiddaman

    Online Armour by Tall Emu.

    • Cathy

      I also use online armour surprised more people don’t I never even hear it mention but its a great firewall. It reminds me of the old Antispyware before Defender by microsoft

  • Dave T

    Zone Alarm Pro 6.5

  • The Random Moose

    I use PC Tools Firewall Plus (free)

    • http://twitter.com/vanillacokehead Vanilla Cokehead

      I second the vote for PC Tools Firewall Plus – relatively simple to use and not terribly bloated.

  • http://pctonic.blogspot.com/ Ashutosh Mishra

    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! :)

  • Prateek

    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.

    • Aibek

      Link ?

      • http://pctonic.blogspot.com/ Ashutosh Mishra

        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/

        • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

          Thanks.

  • http://www.techsmartly.com Joe Boomer

    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!

  • DOOOMKULTUS

    Firewall in Eset Security Suite v3.

  • Martin Jones

    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.

    • Aibek

      I know what you mean, that’s the only reason I stopped using it. It takes too much of time to configure it.

    • Marcolin

      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.

    • http://pctonic.blogspot.com/ Ashutosh Mishra

      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”.

  • http://systembash.com Dave

    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.

  • Gerald Guido

    I have an old (free) version Tiny Personal firewall which absolutely rocks. Nothing gets in or out with out me knowing about it.

  • Mucus Man

    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.

  • mgrimm

    I use Sunbelt, formerly Kerio, free and works very well

  • http://linuxnewb.wordpress.com matthew

    SuSEFirewall on machine and Smoothwall 3.0 as perimeter firewall.

  • Mary

    Still se the free SYGATE Personal Firewall from many years ago…does the job efficiently and have never had problems…

  • http://Start hoaai

    Sygate Firewall

  • http://www.sliloh.com Anita

    Great poll, Never heard of Comodo before. I’ve been using Zone Alarm forever.

  • Ben

    I use McAfee.

  • Garretonfire

    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.

  • Jerry

    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.

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      Hey, thanks for heads up. I never bothered to read those EULA agreements, but now i am beginning to get paranoid abt them.

  • Sean

    Sunbelt (kerio) personal firewall free version. Surprised nobody has mentioned it yet since it’s a great and unobtrusive firewall.

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      I think couple of people metnioned it as well.

  • czar

    I use Eset Smart Security 3.0 (combined Firewall/Antivirus).

  • Rich

    I also have a NAT router. I have used several different firewalls over the years. Presently I use Kerio.

  • Rob P.

    I use Sunbelt Kerio personal firewall. Very happy with it.

  • Andrew Schamess

    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.

  • MikeHo

    ZoneAlarm Security Suite 7.0.470

  • GaryM

    Behind NAT and also use McAfee Security Center which includes a firewall.

  • Andre

    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)

  • http://techmalaya.com Syahid A.

    I use Comodo. It is one of the easiest one to configure and use. Never hassle me that much.

  • Jim

    I use Vista firewall but actively use the Vista FirewallControl api for rules creation etc.

  • http://www.michaelmknight.co.uk Michael Knight

    I use ESET Security Suite (NOD32). I have used most firewalls and AV software but I have now used ESET for 5 years and never had an infection.

    I prefer AIO Suites rather than 4 different programs to do one job.

  • pile

    I use CA Internet Security Suite on my Windows machines… I use built in firewall on my macs.

  • Rjayr

    I use only a hardware firewall/router/modem combination and i use Open DNS, Avira AntiVir Personal – Free Antivirus, and Snoop Free Privacy Shield, no problems

  • Terry

    I used to use Comodo but found it to be too demanding of my attention. I have been using Sunbelt Personal Firewall for a year or so now and it seems to do what I expect/need a firewall to do.

  • Mr Host

    Im using outpost firewall pro…thats not a free program but it werry good program.I downloaded the free trail program for the outpost firewall pro and programed a crack ore what i suld call it :P so i don’t have to pay…if you want the program i think you can downlod it from http://www.thepiratebay.org or somthing :P

    • Mr Host

      ohh…i forgot, im using NOD32 ESET Security Suite to + i use a unix nettwork server were i download my stuff to and then i transfer them to my windows pc…i don’t take the risk of heving a virus in my system…i have like 5 computers + 1 FTP server and 1 nettwrok server, i can’t have the risk of heving a virus :P ..all my coputers are connected so it’s a big risk :P

  • http://11telecharger.blogspot.com telecharger

    thanks

    continu

  • Ryan

    Comodo for me. I tried installing Zone Alarm last week to try it out and the thing messed up my computer so bad windows wouldn’t start. I dunno if its a compatibility issue with Win7 or what, but I returned to Comodo and have had no issues again since then :)

  • leo

    i have kaspersky internet security. It rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.sophos.net Antivirus

    It is interesting how low the Panda Firewall was rated on the list. I used Panda’s antivirus software and it was equally ineffective. It picked up on a large number of false positives from my desktop and tried to delete them without my confirmation. It did more damage than good. I only bought it because the interface was quite stunning with a soothing gray color scheme and professionally designed graphics.