Latest Matousec Software Firewall Ratings

Thanks for the info Joe:

I don't know anything about the Windows firewall...how well it was designed, how often it is improved, or if its ever updated with the newer and more efficient improvements and tricks of the trade that Comodo and Online Armor seem to be constantly coming up with. And I am unsure how a router is able to discern wether something coming through is safe or if it is ever updated or improved. I practice average or normal surfing, which means I might occasional go somewhere less than safe.

Since I am not sure of these things I will continue to favor a firewall that gets "them" coming and going and forces me to be somewhat interactive with it as to what to allow. I find that Online Armor to be way less a pest in this regard than Comodo...and they are free...at least the versions I use..

Dale:

You think like I do!

As you say, third party firewalls are a nuisance to learn and configure. The only reason I stick with Comodo's FW is because it took me so long to tame it, and now I'm comfortable with it. But I would never recommend it for the average user. Online Armor's free version is much simpler and more intuitive.

Also, it troubles me that that Comodo's current FW comes bundled with a disguised version of the Ask toolbar (which I have so far been able to avoid). This is not good!

I really don't know about the necessity for third party FWs, but if forced to recommend one, my choice would be either version of the Online Armor. (I take Matousec's results with a grain of salt).

I sometimes wonder if  I wouldn't be just as well off using the old version of Comodo 2.4x - I believe ky331  still uses it with no problems.

For readers that might want a more "down-to-earth" analysis/comparison of some FREE firewalls, I see that "Gizmo's" webpage was just recently updated:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-firewall.htm

Two quick observations:

1) he gives considerable discussion advocating the use of the built-in windows firewall for "basic" (to average) users, who can't be bothered by sophisticated interaction with the more advanced firewalls:  "Windows firewall is lacking against outbound malware threats and it wouldn't perform well on objective firewall tests [like Matousec's], but users who merely click 'yes' to each and every alert they encounter will not have the level of protection they think they have (and certainly not if the user gets so frustrated that they uninstall their maximum security personal firewall)".

2) his discussion of free "advanced" firewalls, for those who choose to go beyond the basics, recommends the same 3 free firewalls as does Matousec.   He further discusses, in part III, his suggestions to configure these advanced firewalls to "play well" with other security programs, if you wish to pick-and-choose your own favorite combination of security programs.

An excellent link, ky331!

I could not have expressed it better, and agree with just about everything said. Thanks!