New
#1
How important is it to use a third-party firewall or access control?
In my previous install of Windows 7 on my home computer, I was using Comodo as a firewall solution. It provided basically two functions - it limited the ability of software to access the network (classic firewalling), and it limited the ability of software to execute on my machine by blocking access to sensitive parts of the computer, such as the registry. At times I found the access control features of Comodo to be a bit overzealous and most of the time I allowed software access anyway. I was frequently torn between wanting to protect my system by blocking software and ensuring that software would run properly by giving it fuller access.
Now that I'm reinstalling my system because of what might have been a corrupt registry and possibly other problems I couldn't pin down, I find myself wondering if I should change my approach to security.
Should I use a third-party solution as a firewall?
Should I use a solution that supplements UAC?
To what level do such solutions actually help protect my privacy and secure me against intrusion and malware?
What software do people recommend?