Best AV/Firewall that I can really control?

Anyway I just reloading windows 7 so I'm seeing what else is out there.

I'm trying to find something very secure but that I can really control it.
I know there's lots of articles including this forum.
But I'm looking for something I can really get my hands into not a half a dozen settings.

And on that actually defends itself since the first thing this crap does now is kill the antivirus lol

I have been Zone alarm extreme which I've been really happy with.
Except for my system performance that is.

I especially like the "program control" feature and the advanced firewall controls.
Though they could improve on the AV settings some.
And why is their no allow option when restoring from quarantine?

I've tried... - mind you many of these were tried last year.
Mcafee - DELETED some of my files (which it falsely identified). Support told me that was normal behavior and I couldn't change it.

Vipre - too many pop-ups. And many once I approved an apps action, the app would then crash. I'd end up disabling vipre in order to run the program.

Norton - Junk

BitDefender - I think I might have tried this once but I don't recall.

can't remember the others...

Just looking for some opinions because the last time I tested it destroyed my OS the installing and uninstalling them all.


Thanks,

Kenny

Well these two are mainly the two I used the most
Definitely the firewall.

This program control thing - I was able to easily see a list of what apps could access the internet and stop them permanently in a single click.
It also had several levels in which it would monitor an app.
This is an old version but essentially the same thing


Features
A good browser plugin
It's not perfect but maybe Browser virtualization

CarlTR6 said:

Comodo is the closest I have found to the program control in ZA. It is not as straight forward as is ZA and you will have to look for it. I am satisfied with Comodo.

If you try Comodo and can't find the settings, post back.

Cool thanks. How was the performance hit with Comodo vs ZA?

Comodo's free security suite, which you will find at http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/free-download.html is consistently rated the best, even above the much touted Kaspersky's retail version. But, it has a steep learning curve. Unlike ZA, e.g., which has a very few options to consider, and Avast, which just chugs along, Comodo allows you to select from various modes governing how it "learns" your preferences according to your responses to its queries (which are, eventually, applied universally).

So, in response to your desire to "really control" an AV app, Comodo is it: the possibilities are legion. Just be patient with it.

Monk

I used ZA for years... then found Windows7 Firewall Control and never looked back... GL :)

@Kenny782: One legendary issue was associated with Comodo is the file, cmdagent.exe (Google if curious), which had been known to consume 100% of your CPU. I had an issue with this in late 2008 and it is argued that it was a SW bug v. one's quirky OS.

I've had no issues since and mention this in the event that you may have heard about it and thus your performance question.

Monk