What is the best free firewall?

TimeAndroid

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What is the best free firewall in your opinion?
 
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My Computer

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    Windows 8.1 64-bit
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    PC/Desktop
The one in Widows 7 and 8, its the simplest to use.

If you want an AV with a firewall, get NOD32 full security suite, but it is very complicated, even in automatic learning mode. Yoiu can use it for a little while Free with a trial account.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
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    AMD 4400+/4200+
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    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
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    2 GB/3GB
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    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
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    Dell Keyboard
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    Cable Medium Speed
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    Chrome/IE 10
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    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
The one in Widows 7 and 8, its the simplest to use.

If you want an AV with a firewall, get NOD32 full security suite, but it is very complicated, even in automatic learning mode. Yoiu can use it for a little while Free with a trial account.

Thank you for the suggestion.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Which software firewall is best depends very much on you define "best". It may not be best but for the large majority of users the firewall in Windows 7 and Windows 8 is more than adequate. People with unusual requirements may be better served by a third party firewall but you will need considerable knowledge to determine that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Which software firewall is best depends very much on you define "best". It may not be best but for the large majority of users the firewall in Windows 7 and Windows 8 is more than adequate. People with unusual requirements may be better served by a third party firewall but you will need considerable knowledge to determine that.

Best overall in
Performance
Compatibility
Usability
Security
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
For most users, the Windows 7/8 firewall should be adequate - It is easy to adjust in Advanced Mode.

The problem with it, is that it depends on the Workstation and Server services of Windows 7/8 - Especially the Server service, which allows File Sharing and Home Networking. Microsoft really did a good job with this alternative to having to use NetWare, which I could never really get to work right.

ZI think for our purposes here, we can use the native Firewall. If you need an external one, try Eset's Smart Security with an AV and Firewall in one program- VERY difficult to initially set up, but once you get it, it is hands free.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I am using Emsisoft Online Armor Free on Windows 8 at the moment.

I previously tried Private Firewall. It was OK but I find Online Armor easier to use.
 

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    Windows 10 & 8.1 64-bit, Kubuntu
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    Manufacturer: Me
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
    Memory
    G.Skill ARES DDR3 1600 - 3 x 4GB
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    ASUS HD7770-DC-1GD5-V2
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    on board
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    ASUS PB278Q PLS LED LCD 6ms
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 500GB SSD 840 EVO
    2 x Seagate SATA3 2TB Barracuda 64mb Cache
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    Corsair HX-650
    Case
    Cooler Master Centurion 5 II
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    Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
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    Logitech Internet 350
    Mouse
    MS Wireless Laser Mouse 5000
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    100Mb down /2.4Mb up
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton Internet Security
    Other Info
    Leadtek DTV2000DS Dual HD TV Tuner
    USB3 kit for 2 front panel USB3 ports
I wouldn't touch the Firewall, just leave your default one, it does what it's supposed to be doing. Just because it's built-in doesn't mean there are "better" alternatives.

Tinkering with it will probably cause you more issues if you don't know exactly what you're doing. Those alternatives could cause vulnerabilities to you system because you didn't set them up properly due to the lack of knowledge.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3570k
    Motherboard
    ASRock Intel Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Cooling
    Hyper 212
Firewalls like ZoneAlarm became popular with Windows 98 and Windows 2000 which did not have a built in firewall. I used and liked ZoneAlarm for years. But I opted to use the firewall built in to XP when I switched to that OS. The original XP firewall had some issues but they were largely corrected in SP2. The firewall in Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 is really quite good and more than adequate for most people.

But is it the best?
The problem is that "best" is such a highly subjective term. A modern firewall is a complex thing with many factors to consider. So you have to weigh the importance of multiple complex factors based on information you have only read about. Few people have the time or inclination to actually try multiple firewalls (one at a time) and give each one a fair trial. So we rely on the results of such tests published on the Internet. But no responsible report will actually say that one is better than all others, because they can't. You have no make your own choice.

Other firewalls, most commercial but some free ones, offer features and configuration options not found in Windows firewall. These can be important, if you understand them enough to intelligently use them. But you aren't going to learn that by just reading a few forum posts. It is going to take some real work.

So unless you have some specific needs, and of course understand what they are, you won't go far wrong by using Windows firewall. Unless you really want to take the time to study what the alternatives have to offer and how they are important to you. No one can do this for you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    4 Windows 7 Pro Sp1- 4 Win 8 Pro, 1- xp pro sp3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 390, 380, 3 Vostro Laptops (7 computers in all)
    CPU
    desktop/laptop
    Memory
    4gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    atm randioum
    Hard Drives
    350,250
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