EmailBest Reviewed
Firewalls
- Best firewall Online Armor Personal Firewall *Est. $40
- Best free firewall Comodo Internet Security *Est. $0
- Best security-suite firewall Outpost Security Suite Pro 2009 *Est. $50
- Best Mac firewall Little Snitch *Est. $30
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Best firewall
- Easy to use
- Easy on system resources
- Excellent protection
- Advanced features
- Only slightly better than some free firewalls
- Pop-up screens bother some users
In testing, no firewall is as effective at stopping intruders dead as Online Armor Personal Firewall. Experts also say that it is easier to set up and use and lighter on system resources, than most other firewalls. A free version -- Online Armor Free -- is also available, but experts say the reduced protection offered and the lack of automatic updates make the paid version a much better choice. If you want a free firewall, the one that's included in Comodo Internet Security is a better choice, though you might want to only install the firewall and forget the rest of the suite. The firewall is rugged -- testing just a hair behind Online Armor Personal Firewall -- but can be a little more challenging to set up and use.
Matousec.com tests the effectiveness of Online Armor Personal Firewall and finds that it outperforms all comers. Scot Finnie tests firewalls for 18 months and settles on Online Armor Personal Firewall as the best of the bunch in terms of effectiveness and usability. You can find information on the free version, Online Armor Free, at Gizmo's Freeware and Download.com.
Our Sources
1. Matousec.com
Matousec.com tests firewall programs for leaks, frequently updating its ratings as new versions are released. As of this writing, the paid version of Online Armor Personal Firewall receives the top score, catching 99 percent of the test threats.
Review: Proactive Security Challenge, David Matousek
Scot Finnie spends a year and a half of assessing various software firewalls, combining his own research and testing with input from his contributors. In the end, he selects Online Armor Personal Firewall as best because of its top-shelf protection and relative ease of use. The free version is not recommended, however.
Review: The Best Firewall Software of 2008: Online Armor, Scot Finnie, Mar. 2008
Though Online Armor Free -- the free version of Online Armor Personal Firewall -- is called a solid contender, it finishes behind other free firewalls here. Key differences between the free and paid version are described. The program's efficient use of system resources is -- something that reviews say is also a hallmark of the paid version -- is hailed.
Review: Best Free Firewall, Ian "Gizmo" Richards, "Rizar," and contributors, May 11, 2009
4. Download.com
Download.com allows users to post reviews and ratings of software they have used. The free version of Online Armor gets only a handful of short reviews but receives more than 200 votes. Feedback is good, but not overly impressive. Some users say they find the pop-up windows annoying.
Review: Online Armor Personal Firewall Reviews, Contributors to Download.com
Firewalls Runners Up:
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
