EST free firewall for win 7 home

I guys. I've looked around the net but only to read contradictory info. Some sites swearing on win firewall, others really not!

Any suggestions for a free, decent firewall for win 7 home (sp1)

Thanks

I would vote for the Windows Firewall myself too. Despite its disastrous default configuration, it's very capable once you learn how to use it. Just give it a try, go directly for "firewall with advanced security" control panel and investigate a bit about its rules and learn how to block and allow specific programs/ports/protocols, etc.

Its most important drawback is the lacking of outgoing block notifications, which makes troubleshooting network problems a bit harder. A few third party programs attempt (without great results) to give those notifications.

But other than that, I find it to be a surprisingly good piece of software, so far it hasn't turned me down.

Lady Fitzgerald said:

to people who would know which transmissions to allow and which to block

If people don't know even basic network management, it's better not to have a firewall at all. It's a good tool and all, but without proper knowledge it will just get in the way and will fail to give any protection.

Many have referred to Windows 'firewall' as being more of a 'wide open door'...

I never had a Windows Firewall warning....one wonders just what sort of things it will actually block by default.

Personal Firewall 7.0, on the other hand, has a learning period after it's intial install, but, seems quite adept at initially blocking almost everything 'new', but, prompts you for permission (block/allow), with ability to trust assorted signed publishers. I don't mind the occasional 'block/allow' popup, I'd rather have that than 99.99% of malicious stuff allowed through by default!

Thanks for the replies guys. Back in the day it was almost standard to install zonealarm, (that is, the 32 bit days) but I'm quite surprised-at least on a net search- that more peeps are OK with win 7's own firewall. Got decent enough antivirus so probably gonna stick with what I've got for now.

Cheers :)

Few complain about the WIndows Firewall, as it never mistakenly blocks anything....; sometimes I wonder if it blocks anything at all, good or bad, by default.

mdd1963 said:

Few complain about the WIndows Firewall, as it never mistakenly blocks anything....; sometimes I wonder if it blocks anything at all, good or bad, by default.

What firewall are you using? How is that going for you?

Private Firewall (7.0)...

privacyware dot com

It will ask permission at almost anything new/unknown, so, if you are an active downloader of new applications, and dislike the occasional security popup, this is NOT your product. On the other hand, if you accidentally install something, then it is indeed your fault, as the Firewall feature will indeed ask "Block/Allow" for pretty much everything new..