Firewalls: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentPCMag.com provides detailed reviews of firewalls offered on their own and as part of security suites. Products are rated, and the best earn Editors' Choice recognition. Testing is hands-on and comprehensive, but results sometimes differ considerably from those of other expert reviewers. Norton 360 and Norton Internet Security 2011 earn Editors' Choice awards and have firewalls that are singled out for their excellence. The firewall in Comodo Internet Security is also judged to be excellent, though Neil J. Rubenking is not very fond of other parts of the package resulting in an unimpressive overall rating. Among standalone firewalls, ZoneAlarm Free Firewall earns Editors' Choice honors as an excellent option among free solutions. Users also lend their own -- and sometimes quite different -- opinions of the firewalls rated here.

Our AssessmentWeb User, a U.K. computer magazine, regularly reviews security software, though finding them on this site can be a chore. The magazine does not rank firewall software products but provides a succinct review of several popular choices offering pros and cons for each product. Among products whose firewall performance is addressed, Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 and Outpost Security Suite Pro draw recommendations, but both also are seen to have drawbacks. Outpost Security Pro is singled out, however, for having "one of the best firewalls around."

Our AssessmentDownload.com also offers information about Mac firewalls and other security programs. Though editorial reviews are rare, users chime in with their opinions. Little Snitch scores well, with most granting it ratings of 4 or 5 stars. Even more users chime in about Intego Virus Barrier X6, which pairs antivirus protection with a firewall, though the program scores a bit lower (3.5 stars out of 5).

Our AssessmentLike Download.com, Softpedia.com lets users post opinions and ratings of software they've used. Editorial reviews are also posted for some firewalls, but they are often too old to be completely relevant. Outpost Firewall Pro is named an Editor's Pick in the firewall category, and it also is among the top-rated choices by users.

Our AssessmentThis head-to-head comparison pits Comodo Internet Security against Norton Internet Security 2011. Testing is extensive and well-documented, though more time is spent on virus detection and removal than any other aspect of the programs. Norton wins out, but barely. Both security suites are called robust solutions that "have what it takes to protect a user's system."

Our AssessmentThis site provides brief editorial commentary on a handful of firewall programs. One nice feature is a clear alert regarding adware and browser modifications that could get by users if they aren't paying full attention during installation. For example, the write up of the top rated Comodo Internet Security suite includes the warning that the program will install the Ask.com toolbar unless a user opts out during installation. Users can also post reviews, and Comodo Internet Security again gets the nod based on feedback from more than 65 user posts.

Our AssessmentBrightHub.com brings most (but not all) of its contributed articles on firewalls together on this page. As is often the case here, some articles and reviews are more helpful than others, though none stands up particularly well compared to those provided by professional reviewers. A comparison of the top firewalls for Windows 7 provides ratings, and you can see which ones the author deems to be the best but they provide little explanation as to why. Some single-firewall reviews are more detailed, but they are based on user impressions rather than formal testing of effectiveness.

Our AssessmentThough the brief editorial introduction does little to shed light on the value of Little Snitch other than listing the new features in the latest edition, there's some good insight to be gleaned in the reviews/comments thread and a second one on troubleshooting. Users can also leave ratings, and nearly 200 do so, granting the current version a solid rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5).