Today we will talk about free firewalls, the better way to protect your system without extra funds for protection. We offer three popular software products at your discretion: Ashampoo Firewall Free, PC Tools Firewall Plus and Online Armor Free.

Let's start with the product Ashampoo Firewall Free developed by Ashampoo, it has an easy and informative interface, the list of languages ​​includes Russian, which will make it easy to configure.

To get started, just visit the manufacturer’s website, register, receive an activation code by email, which you need to enter in the program, and that’s it.

The program has two operating modes: simple and expert. Of course, the second mode is better, but even in simple mode you will get decent protection.

The program consists of five modules: Rules (configure the parameters of Internet connections), Statistics and Log (in them you will find information about the operation of the program and the status of your protection), Configuration (using it you can configure the operation of the program internally), Utility (contains a pop-up blocker windows, process manager, auto start, Internet surfing history)

The principle of operation of a firewall is that the program informs the user about unauthorized actions, offering to apply a rule for him. Also contains a learning function and can block all connections if necessary.

Next on our list is PC Tools Firewall Plus. It is also completely free and in Russian. Has very good feedback in the fight against keyloggers and blocks unauthorized downloading of information from your computer by Trojan programs.

The advantage of the program is that it can be installed without any registration. A firewall provides a hidden presence on the network and protects the connection with passwords. You can also in manual mode configure connection parameters. The program creates lists of IP addresses, tested ports and analyzes network traffic.

Another interesting software product, Online Armor Free, was created by Emsisoft-GmbH. This software product simply has a huge set of tools to combat virus threats, network attacks, and hidden scripts.

Pro active protection controls the operation of the program. Online Armor Free scans the system and detects dangerous applications by marking them.

It has convenient and easy navigation, allows you to create lists for ports, domains, IP addresses, and suspicious programs in startup. Has the ability to classify sites for potential threats.

Windows 7 Firewall Control Plus is a small free program that will help control applications trying to access the Internet. The program uses the built-in firewall mechanism of Windows XP/7/8/Vista, while offering additional features for controlling program access to the network and the Internet.

Outpost Firewall Free is one of the best network defenders, which is designed to protect your computer from threats emanating from the Internet - scanners, Internet worms, etc.

SoftPerfect Personal Firewall is a free network firewall designed to protect your PC from attacks from the Internet or via local network. SoftPerfect Personal Firewall offers customizable security using custom rules for packet filtering.

Comodo Firewall is one of the best firewalls. The producers of this program, unlike others, offer full version defender against network and Internet threats, free. Comodo Firewall is easy to manage and is aimed at untrained users.

Comodo Firewall.

Free Personal Firewall from Comodo for Windows XP and Vista. Part of Comodo Internet Security. Program features: proactive protection; protection against Internet attacks; buffer overflow protection; protection against unauthorized access; protection system files and registry entries from internal attacks. Proactive protection includes HIPS (Host Intrusion Prevention Systems), a system for repelling local threats. The task is to monitor the operation of applications and block potentially dangerous operations based on specified criteria.

Official website: http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/inte...ewall.html

Free firewall created using a community solution. Designed to protect personal computers working under Windows control 2000 and XP. The point of a community solution is that a large group of network security experts prepares and publishes common use settings for work, which are constantly updated, taking into account the emergence of new applications. These security settings can be downloaded for free from the community website. This approach of developers should allow even the most untrained user in security issues to easily configure their firewall for optimal operation, i.e. Protect your computer as much as possible.

Official website: http://force.coresecurity.com

Online Armor (Online Armor Security Suite)

Combines convenience and ease of use, reliability of protection. The program performs the function perfectly maximum protection and provides an excellent user experience. Online Armor received the "Best Firewall of 2008" award.

Official website: http://rus.tallemu.com

PC Tools Firewall Plus

This is a free, easy-to-use, but effective personal firewall for Windows that protects information stored on your computer from unauthorized access from local networks or the Internet. By controlling the operation of various applications, it blocks attempts by Trojans, backdoors, keyloggers and others malware damage your computer and steal your confidential information.

Official website: http://www.pctools.com/ru/firewall

There are many organizations on the Internet that specialize in spying on users. Some surf for marketing reasons, others spy on users of file-sharing networks to record illegal activities. At the same time, such organizations also come across honest users. Fortunately, most of these organizations use static IP addresses, which makes blocking them easier. Peer Guardian is very good at blocking these IPs. Supports lists of addresses that need to be blocked, automatic updates from the blacklist on the Internet. Blocks all types TCP protocols, UDP, ICMP, etc.

Official website: http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2

An effective and easy-to-use firewall that blocks hackers and other unknown threats when working on a local network or the Internet. Flexible settings and a convenient user interface will help you quickly protect your computer. In ZoneAlarm, you can set the security level for each program individually or use general setting rules for all programs. Using this firewall, you can instantly block access to programs trying to connect to the network and the Internet, and automatically scan attachments Email. The ZoneAlarm firewall is free for individual and non-commercial use (including government and educational institutions).

Official website: http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us ... wnload.htm

GeSWall (GentleSecurityWall)

A useful, free firewall that protects your computer from intruders and malware by isolating vulnerable applications. Application isolation is based on an access restriction policy that effectively prevents all types of known and even unknown attacks.

Official website: http://www.gentlesecurity.com

Outpost Firewall Free 2009

Provides reliable protection, in addition, you get advanced protection against unauthorized program activity, which helps block unknown threats. Key features: two-way firewall; protection that cannot be turned off by hackers; application monitoring; has an intuitive interface; low requirements for system resources; network activity monitoring; Windows support Vista and 64 bit architecture.

Official website: http://free.agnitum.com

Firewall (firewall), or as it is also called firewall, firewall and firewall, monitor and control system connections between your computer, the network and the Internet in order to promptly detect and prevent attacks and intrusions. Programs of this class are especially useful in cases where it is necessary to control the Internet activity of installed applications.

No one else free product does not make the user more sad than a firewall. And the reason is simple, the process of finding a suitable firewall necessarily involves a process of trial and error. A good firewall should protect the system without being too intrusive or difficult to manage and configure. This review will provide you with the best free firewalls (according to this site) available today. Like all reviews, recommendations and advice are made based on the experiences of different people. Therefore, if you have ideas or interesting opinions, they are always welcome.

Note: The reader should understand that powerful firewalls with flexible rules settings always require knowledge in the field of network design. However, even in their case there must be a more or less clear way of administration.

There are two types of firewalls - programs and hardware devices. Firewalls, presented as programs (which will be discussed in this article), are installed on your computer and run in background in order to closely monitor the system’s actions in real time. As with many security features, to avoid potential conflicts that may even involve manually deleting files from boot drives, it is recommended to install only one firewall. Hardware firewalls are usually a special device with embedded logic and filtering-optimized modules (for example, special processors whose instruction set includes operations with IP addresses). You can use software and hardware firewalls together. For example, modern routers typically include a built-in firewall and, depending on the type of router, it may not only be firmware (as device programs are called), but also partially implemented at the chip level.

Having a basic firewall has long been critical to keeping your computer safe, which is why many antivirus programs are gradually incorporating some firewall functionality. Simple firewalls, like the default Windows Firewall, allow you to restrict access to your system and personal information, silently protecting you from incoming threats. This review will look at several basic firewalls that can protect Windows a little better than it can standard tool security, for example, monitor attempts by programs to open outgoing connections to the Internet (this action refers to outgoing threats).

Note: The reader should understand that the standard Windows firewall provides sufficient limited opportunities to protect against outgoing threats. Third Party Applications usually offer a wider range of options.

Proactive firewalls offer more advanced protection, including intrusion detection and prevention systems based on the collection of statistics on program behavior and heuristic analysis, which allows them to protect the computer from a wider range of threats. These firewalls strive to create strong two-way protection, stopping not only incoming threats, but also protecting you from programs transmitting your personal information to the Internet. The disadvantage of such firewalls is that they are more difficult to use and require more money.

It is important to understand that today, having a firewall and antivirus (either separately or as a single solution) is considered the minimum required basic approach to keeping your computer safe.

Note: On different parts you can find a lot of sites useful information about security, such as a review of intrusion detection and prevention programs for home use.

Tips and precautions:

• Before installing security products, including antiviruses and firewalls, you should consider creating a full disk image. By creating such an image, you will be able to restore your system back to its previous state in cases where, after installing and configuring protection tools, problems appear critical errors in the system, for example, due to incorrect installation components or you have changed critical system settings. In addition, images allow you to cope with complex viruses or simply random conflicts in the system. For example, some system drivers may simply be incompatible with each other, causing your system to suffer. Beginning with Windows Vista Ultimate, the system includes a standard backup and recovery tool, but you can also use free programs to create a disk image.
• For check complete removal Third-party firewalls and other security tools are advised to use uninstallers, since services, registry entries and other system objects may remain after removal.

Basic firewalls and firewalls

Preface or a few words about the built-in windows firewall

The built-in Windows Firewall is a more common choice of users, as it allows you to protect your computer from incoming threats and does not bombard you with pop-up messages. Also, the Windows firewall does not require installation (we are talking about Windows versions, where firewall is included by default) and practically does not conflict with other programs. Additionally, many average users are unable to properly respond to pop-up notifications due to the lack of basic knowledge network devices.

So if you need to scan your system for viruses and you do not want (need) the additional capabilities of third-party firewalls, in other words, the level of risk is very low, then Windows Firewall may be exactly the solution you need due to its simplicity and undemanding.

Alternatively, you can download a third-party firewall and replace the standard Windows firewall with the base one for easier control of outgoing connections and for additional features. Most two-way firewalls are limited to simple questions like allow or deny Internet access for unknown programs. And also, many firewalls automatically configure access to a pre-configured list of programs (often this list includes most popular applications) and save your decisions in their database. So, after some time, you will hardly see any notifications.

And as an option, you can also use proactive firewalls by first disabling heuristics and analysis in them. In addition, this option may be even more suitable, since proactive firewalls, due to their complexity, simply contain a larger list of preliminary rule templates and access settings.

This is a well made firewall to control outgoing and incoming connections operating system, which is suitable for users of any level. ZoneAlarm protects the system from intrusions and also controls program access to the Internet. The firewall has an easy to understand interface. You can configure security settings to suit your own needs, including shared (public) files and printers, network settings, and more. You can even turn off the firewall if necessary (by the way, quick access The standard Windows firewall is madly lacking this capability). All configuration is done using simple controls (sliders and others), so in most cases you will only need a few clicks. To make it easier for users to get used to the program, when starting for the first time, ZoneAlarm prompts you to scan installed programs and setting access permissions/denies for them. Please note that this first scan does not always allow you to set the access correctly.

The first time after installation, you will have to monitor and adjust the actions of ZoneAlarm to make sure that all programs have a sufficient level of Internet access. But, pop-ups are very simple and are presented in an "allow/deny" format with a checkbox to remember the selected action. Even novice users can easily figure it out (the name of the programs will also be indicated in the message).

You can set the program control level that suits you. Low level involves learning mode (the firewall remembers all programs that use the network), disabling protection and a minimum number of pop-up windows. The middle level assumes that any access to a trusted network or the Internet will be done with permission. High level is not provided in free version ZoneAlarm. You can set any of the levels at any time. Using the "Smart Defense Advisor" module, Firewall will suggest the most commonly accepted option for non-rule programs by users around the world. You may not use this module(although it will be quite useful for beginners).

Setting up Internet zones includes a trusted zone, which implies a local network with shared files, printers, etc., and an Internet zone for access from the network. Each zone has a simple control format of 3 options: "no security" (firewall disabled), "medium" (exchange/sharing of resources such as files and printers) and "high" (allows use of the network, but blocks someone on the network accessing your system). Medium level is recommended for home networks with more than one operating system, and for cases where devices (routers, routers) require this. A high level is recommended for single machines with Internet access (for example, there is only one computer at home and there is no internal network), as well as for public places where you are going to access the network (WiFi in restaurants and so on).

Overall, ZoneAlarm Free offers basic two-way protection with stealth mode and anti-phishing protection. However, the firewall lacks heuristic and behavioral modules, as well as the ability to allow/block access between programs.

It is worth noting that from version to version, the firewall becomes a little lighter in terms of functionality. Perhaps this is only a temporary dynamic, but still.

Will good choice for those who aim to use the built-in Windows firewall. Despite its name, the program is compatible with Windows XP and higher. In a few words, Windows 10 Firewall Control allows you to more conveniently and in simple form configure blocking and application access to the Internet in the standard Windows firewall. This firewall also adds more The best way management of outgoing connections. It is based on the Windows Filtering Platform, which also powers the standard firewall. Therefore, unlike most other firewalls, the application does not install any drivers on the system. The user interface is made very simple and clear. It displays only what the program can do, i.e. a block with settings to “allow/deny” access and nothing more.

There are three modes in total - “normal”, “allow all” and “disable all”. The latter mode completely disables access to applications, regardless of firewall settings. The "allow all" mode is self-explanatory, meaning unhindered Internet access for all applications (similar to turning off the firewall). If you do not need to test something, then normal mode is recommended - Internet access for programs will be provided depending on individual settings.

In normal mode, when the program tries to access the Internet for the first time (after installing W10), a pop-up window will appear with information about the application, publisher, etc. You can allow or deny access either one-time or permanently. If you select the first option, the next time you start the program the window will appear again.

In addition to the selection pop-ups Windows actions 10 Firewall Control, small windows also appear in the lower right corner of the screen with access information (access blocked/allowed, etc.). These notifications can be turned off in Settings.

That's basically all this firewall can do. The disadvantages include the fact that you will have to configure access for all your applications, from the browser to the antivirus, which can be somewhat annoying in its routine. However, Windows 10 Firewall Control allows for much easier and more convenient control over the built-in Windows firewall than the operating system offers.

It is a lightweight firewall that is based on the standard Windows Firewall. It is completely free of pop-ups, so this firewall may be ideal for those who need a "set it up and go do other things" solution. The installer for this program weighs only about 1 MB. Installation is simple, but, unfortunately, does not include the ability to select the installation location. After installation, the firewall runs in the background with an icon in the system tray. All program functions are accessible only from the system tray - there is no “main window” interface in it. In the pop-up menu, the user can select the necessary items, in particular, firewall mode, general network activity, add/exclude applications/processes and call up a dialog with firewall settings.

The firewall settings dialog box is also quite modest. General settings, with the ability to set a password to protect settings. A section that specifies applications that are allowed to connect to the network. There is also a "Detect" function that will try to detect known applications so that the user does not have to add programs manually. In addition, TinyWall can recognize related processes of one application. For example, if you have a program that runs several processes, then by adding the program to the white list, all open related processes will also have access to the Internet.

It should be noted that when adding a program to the exclusion list, the application is not limited to UDP and TCP traffic. Depending on the nature of the program, it may be more prudent to limit it to "outgoing" traffic only, for example.

The Special Exceptions tab allows the user to set additional parameters. In particular, choose to allow or block access for system services. If you are not very computer savvy, it is recommended to leave the settings as they are. On the maintenance tab, you can import/export settings, check for versions, and also go to the developer page.

Overall, TinyWall is a lightweight firewall that is a good choice for those looking for an unobtrusive and easy to manage firewall.

Firewalls and firewalls with intrusion detection and prevention systems

Preface or a few words about firewalls with intrusion detection and prevention systems

The following firewalls and firewalls provide more better protection networks, and also support various versions of intrusion detection and prevention systems. Every firewall comes with default settings, so very few adjustments may be required depending on the user's needs

The firewalls in this section require more knowledge and time from the user to set up and become familiar with than basic firewalls, but they provide a higher level of protection.

When choosing a suitable firewall, you should not rely on publicly available independent testing and other statements, since during testing the effectiveness is checked at maximum settings, while most users have a simpler level of protection (after all, you want to use the Internet, and not sit in trench with access to one site). Therefore, most firewall developers strive to ensure maximum “friendliness” of functionality, sometimes with a lower level of security settings (disabling monitoring of some indicators).

Please take these circumstances into account.

This is a solid firewall for those users looking for a full-featured security package. This product is mostly intended for experienced and tech-savvy users. Its intrusion detection system is called "Defense+" and meets or even exceeds the capabilities of paid products. Komodo firewall provides quite a lot of control and settings, which will especially appeal to curious and restless users whose task is to ensure maximum level security.

Comodo includes protection against buffer overflow attacks and a lightweight sandboxing option that allows you to check unknown applications and program installations to see how their launch will affect the computer's operating system. Sandboxing is limiting Negative consequences malware. Komodo contains a long list of known, trusted applications, but if an unknown application tries to gain access through the firewall, Comodo will first restrict the program and ask you what to do with it. In addition, all the functionality to control ports, protocols and configurations will be at your disposal.

During installation, you will have three options to install the firewall - "firewall only", "firewall with an optimal set of proactive protection" and "maximum proactive protection" (i.e. "Defense+", as mentioned earlier). After installation, Comodo automatically selects "Safe Mode", which will result in numerous pop-up notifications for applications that are not included in the list of trusted programs. If you select allow/deny and choose to remember the response, Comodo will create and save a custom rule for the application, which you can always edit from the general list.

If you select Clean PC Mode, Defense+ will automatically mark all applications on your drive as safe. Please note that if there is a virus among the programs, it will also be considered safe, so use it carefully this function and only in cases where you are truly confident in the safety of the programs. However, these applications will still be monitored, albeit at a minimal level - checking Comodo protected objects (registry and COM interface), monitoring established rules, etc. Any files you add will be automatically added to the review list, flagged as potentially unsafe, and running them will result in pop-up messages as if you were using safe mode, until you set the rules.

Comodo reduces the frequency of alerts by automatically identifying programs as safe based on Internet access rules. However, you can further reduce the number of Defense+ alerts using one or more methods:

• Immediately imply your answer as "remember answer" for all warnings. In other words, when any application is launched for the first time, the answer will immediately be assumed to be a permanent solution. However, it is necessary to use carefully this setting, since from time to time applications need to temporarily grant or deny access
• Add programs to lists of safe or trusted files
• Use clean computer mode. It is recommended to first make sure that the programs on your disk do not contain viruses and Trojans

Overall, Comodo Firewall is a powerful firewall with a lot of flexible settings, which is perfect for providing a high level of protection. However, it is intended for those users who have some knowledge of Windows device and networks. Beginner users are strongly advised not to use this firewall.

The former commercial firewall is now free without restrictions. This proactive, multi-layered security solution includes behavioral blocking technology that monitors and checks for viruses, spyware, malware, process and application security, the registry, and more along with standard firewall protection. Private Firewall can certainly be called a multifunctional firewall with an intrusion detection and prevention system.

The program's user interface may seem a little confusing and cumbersome. There are a lot of customizable options, so sometimes it can feel a bit lacking in sorting. Of course, each section contains quite a lengthy reference with explanations, but still. The training mode allows you to resolve all program actions within 180 seconds, which is ideal for quick setup rules for newly installed programs (no need to create dozens of rules for each port, protocol and address). However, be prepared that the first launch of the firewall may lead to blocking of a number of seemingly well-known programs.

You can set different security levels (high, low, and custom) for your internal network and the Internet. In other words, for example, if you have home network a couple of computers or a printer, then there is no point in limiting them in the same way. You will also have three profiles at your disposal - Home, Office and Remote. You can set the appropriate settings for each and easily switch as needed, especially useful for laptops. One more useful function is that you can block outgoing mail in one click, which is convenient when you have started mail client and you don’t want the application to send emails randomly or on a schedule.

Overall, Private Firewall is a fairly effective firewall that has fairly good ratings on the Internet. Nevertheless, GUI and ease of use will be more appreciated by technically savvy users. A beginner will simply be confused.

The firewall is a good choice for users who want flexible security settings without compromising ease of use. Its interface is carefully organized and retains its functionality (it can be easily navigated by ordinary users). For example, alerts are simplified but just as functional, so you can quickly and easily set up rules or apply actions. In addition, the firewall remembers all replies in pop-up messages without the need to create additional rules, notifies you of all configured rules in training mode and notifies you of all automatically applied rules, for example, for browsers when changing versions.

The free version lacks many of the additional features of the paid version, such as the ability to disable an active connection. However, there are plenty of opportunities. You can choose 5 levels of protection, ranging from completely blocking connections to allowing all actions, including the average manual learning mode "Rules Wizard". In addition, the Outpost firewall controls various dangerous application activities, including memory injection, driver loading, and access to critical system objects (registry, files). Also, the Outpost database includes quite a lot of pre-configured rule templates, so setting up Internet access for applications will most often consist of a couple of mouse clicks.

The installer will ask you if you want the firewall to train for a week (using auto-learning mode and manual training "Rules Wizard"). In this mode, the firewall will automatically set rules for known safe applications.

Overall, Outpost Firewall Free is a good choice for those looking for a balance of functionality and interface.

The firewall differs from its counterparts in that it comes with additional protection modules, namely the registry, pop-up blocker and parental controls- something like a package solution. Firewall is less customizable than the previous firewalls listed in the review, but many standard sections are still available. Three levels of protection - off (turns off the firewall), custom (allows you to configure rules for connections) and high (blocks all connections). Each section in the program interface is designed quite cleanly. Alerts generally provide clear and concise information.

The registry protection module provides control and security of the registry for modifications, with the ability to configure specific sections. The Parental Control module, as the name suggests, limits the available list of sites, but you need to manually add each site. The module problem is in logic. You can only allow certain websites, you cannot just block individual sites. The pop-up blocker monitors browser behavior and blocks pop-up ads and more. All these three additional modules can be disabled individually. AVS Firewall also comes with a monitoring utility so you can check the amount of network traffic passing through for each application.

During the installation of this firewall, the installer automatically installs the AVS Software browser. Unfortunately, there is no option to opt out, but after installation you can remove it separately without any consequences for the firewall.

Overall, AVS Firewall is a pretty good firewall that will appeal to those who need to provide more security than in the case of basic firewalls, and who do not want to delve too deeply into the specifics of the network design.

Note: AVS Firewall is no longer supported by the manufacturer.

Other firewalls and firewalls for Windows

Although it is rare to see older operating systems, such as 98 or Me, they still should not be left unprotected, especially if they are not hidden behind other systems with firewalls. Therefore, if for some reason you use them, then here is a small list of firewalls and firewalls for Windows 95-2000. Please note that these firewalls are no longer supported by the manufacturers and may contain errors or lead to problems that, most likely, no one except you will consider. However, having an opportunity is better than not having one.

• Sygate Personal Firewall (Windows 2000/XP/2003) [no longer supported]
• NetVeda Safety.Net (Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, requires registration) [no longer supported]
• Filseclab Personal Firewall (Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/2003/XP 32-bit) [no longer supported]

Most users, when deciding on computer security, limit themselves to installing commercial or, believing that this is quite enough for “one hundred percent” protection. However, this is not quite true.

The Internet is full of dangers and in most cases, it is through the network that malicious applications penetrate the computer, and then, having nestled in, they themselves begin to transfer the personal data of an unsuspecting user to the network, or use the computer to distribute spam or as a proxy server.

Therefore, it is so important that each computer also has a good firewall installed, or as they also say, a firewall. In this short review we bring to your attention seven best free firewalls: Ashampoo Firewall Free, PC Tools Firewall Plus, Emsisoft Online Armor Free, ZoneAlarm Free Firewall, Filseclab Personal Firewall Professional Edition, Outpost Firewall Free and Comodo Firewall. The choice is yours.

Ashampoo Firewall Free

First on our list is Ashampoo Firewall Free. Like most programs developed by the company, this firewall has a convenient and colorful interface with Russian language support and a built-in settings wizard.

To use the program, you must go through a simple registration procedure on the manufacturer’s website. In this case, a message will be sent to the user's mailbox: free code, which you can use to register Ashampoo Firewall.

Immediately after installation, the wizard will offer you a choice of one of two modes: “Simplified” and “Expert”. In most cases, it is recommended to use Expert mode.

The program has five main modules or sections. In the “Rules” section you can configure connection parameters for programs that use the Internet. The “Statistics” and “Journal” modules are purely informational. Here you can view data about all connections and events.

The “Configuration” module is intended for internal settings of the firewall itself. The “Utilities” section contains four additional tools, namely, a process manager, a utility for clearing Internet surfing history and a pop-up blocker.

Ashampoo Firewall Free works approximately as follows: when an application for which there are no established rules tries to establish a connection, the firewall notifies the user about this, offering to create a new rule for this program, that is, allow or block its access to the network.

When you disable this function (learning mode), the dialog will not be shown, and all applications for which no rules have been set will be blocked automatically. You can also use the “Block all” option. In this case, the firewall will block all connections without exception.

PC Tools Firewall Plus

Next, we recommend that you pay attention to an excellent firewall called PC Tools Firewall Plus. Simple, free, with Russian language support, this firewall is one of the most reliable and effective, according to numerous user reviews. PC Tools Firewall Plus protects the system from unauthorized data transmission by Trojans, keyloggers and other malicious programs, and also prevents them from penetrating the computer.

It also supports flexible management of network traffic, creating your own rules, protecting settings with a password, and hiding the presence of a PC on the network. The program is easy to install and does not require registration and system reboot as is the case with Ashampoo Firewall.

Connection parameters are configured manually. It is advisable to do this immediately after installing the program, since by default PC Tools Firewall Plus marks some applications as unverified and therefore may partially block their operation. The firewall user interface has six to five main sections.

The Applications module is designed to manage programs and create rules for them. You can create a list of tested ports and IP addresses in the “Profiles” section, and if you want to analyze network traffic, you can switch to the “Operation” section. IN general settings you can adjust the level of protection, set up filtering, full-screen mode, and also set a password to protect PC Tools Firewall Plus itself.

Emsisoft Online Armor Free

Third place on our list is taken by a free firewall from Emsisoft GmbH called Online Armor Free. The program has a fairly impressive set of protection tools against all kinds of online threats, as well as blocking malware that uses the Internet. Online Armor Free includes four main protection modules: firewall, web filter, proactive protection and anti-keylogger.

A firewall and web filter provide reliable protection against information leakage from the user’s computer, and also prevent unauthorized attempts to access the system by malicious scripts.

The proactive protection module allows you to control the behavior of programs and, if necessary, limit their activities.

Online Armor Free automatically scans your system for potentially dangerous applications and flags them accordingly. The firewall uses updated online databases to determine the security level of applications installed on the system.

Online Armor Free has a fairly simple and convenient interface with support for the Russian language. The main menu is located on the left side of the working window, the program status and date are displayed on the right side last update databases, as well as the latest news from the developer’s website. Online Armor Free supports creating rules for programs, managing ports and devices, creating lists of ignored domains, controlling the startup of suspicious applications, as well as controlling permissions to change the HOSTS file.

The firewall's capabilities also include protection against spam, keyloggers, cookie blocking, site classification, and protection against forced address changes. home page browsers Internet Explorer, Opera and Firefox. From additional features Applications include support for virtual desktops, subnet scanning, as well as disabling HIPS and setting a password on the GUI.

ZoneAlarm Free Firewall

If the lack of the Russian language does not bother you, you can pay attention to ZoneAlarm Free Firewall - a very unique firewall in terms of design, designed to protect PCs when working on global and local networks.

The application has an easy interface with a minimum number of settings. Supports control of user programs (access list), Internet traffic tracking, checking email attachments, detailed logging, blocking pop-up windows and advertising banners.

In addition, the program has a cookie control function, which allows you to limit the transfer of confidential information to the websites you view. The user can set the protection level independently. You can download the ZoneAlarm web installer completely free from the developer’s website.

During the installation process of the package, in addition to the firewall, a number of additional protection tools are also installed - Web Identity Protections (web lock), Identity Protections (personal identification) and Online Backup ( backup). After installing the firewall, you need to restart your computer.

Filseclab Personal Firewall Professional Edition

Filseclab Personal Firewall Professional Edition is another free, convenient and very simple firewall. The program supports creating individual rules for programs using a step-by-step wizard, filtering network access, viewing connections in real time, keeping logs, and monitoring traffic. Filseclab Personal Firewall responds to attempts by “doubtful” or new applications to open a connection by displaying a pop-up window asking you to create a corresponding rule.

The program uses three main security levels, each of which is marked with a corresponding color: green, yellow and red. In addition, for each level it is possible to create personal rules. Filseclab Personal Firewall has a fairly simple interface divided into seven sections.

The “Status” section displays the volume of traffic and the number of transmitted packets; “Monitor” displays the listening ports and application connections.

In the Rules section, you can set rules for a specific application or domain.

The remaining sections are of an informative nature. There is no Russian language in Filseclab Personal.

Outpost Firewall Free

The next firewall, Outpost Firewall Free, is perhaps one of the simplest and least demanding firewall systems. In this respect, it is akin to the standard Windows firewall, which, as a rule, is constantly present in the system and does not show itself :).

Outpost Firewall is a fairly easy-to-use program designed to protect against external intrusions, as well as unauthorized transfer of data by applications installed on the user’s computer. Unlike other firewalls, Outpost Firewall Free requires virtually no preliminary configuration.

The application supports monitoring of all incoming and outgoing connections, tracking software activity in real time, and extensibility using built-in modules. In the event of a threat or network activity of “dubious” programs, Outpost Firewall will notify the user about this and offer to allow or block the application that has declared itself.

Outpost Firewall Free has a very simple user interface, not burdened with “extra” functions. Russian language, unfortunately, is missing.

However, this is not so important - the program is simple enough that even a novice user can understand it. A few settings allow you to adjust the level of protection if necessary (up to completely blocking connections), as well as create exception rules for various programs and services.

Comodo Firewall

And finally, we suggest you briefly familiarize yourself with another free firewall, Comodo Firewall. This powerful, feature-rich program with an impressive set of tools is initially bundled with Comodo Antivirus, Comodo Defense and the Dragon web browser, but can also be installed separately.

The firewall provides complete protection against hacker attacks, Trojans, malicious scripts, keyloggers and other types of Internet threats. The application supports monitoring of incoming and outgoing traffic, working with ports, hiding a computer on a network, monitoring software and driver updates

Additional firewall functions include maintaining a detailed event log and integration into Windows Security Center, quickly switching between modes (from the system tray), protecting the system during startup, detecting unidentified files, viewing active processes and launching applications in a special sandbox (Sandbox).

With such a solid set of tools, Comodo Firewall has a simple Russian-language interface aimed at the inexperienced network settings user. All tools and functions of the application are distributed among four modules, and each option has a corresponding description.

Plus, the program is equipped with a system of interactive dialogues (pop-up windows), written in an extremely simple and understandable language for a novice user.

Bottom line

Choosing a good firewall can seem like a daunting task. And to make this work easier, let me give you some free advice. First, when choosing a firewall, pay attention to the opinions of experienced users and software testers. As a rule, a really good firewall leaves a lot of positive reviews.

Secondly, a good firewall should not enter into unreasonable conflicts with system drivers, popular applications and antiviruses, and also be able to work with the Center Windows security.

The presence of updated databases is also very desirable. In addition, a good firewall cannot be easily disabled from the Task Manager (this can be done with Filseclab Personal Firewall).

Thirdly, the firewall should not slow down the system in any way. For example, in this regard, the ZoneAlarm firewall seriously loses, since it is quite demanding on system resources and can slow down the work of a weak machine.

Also, before making your final choice, it is advisable to test the firewall using a special program 2ip Firewall Tester. Everything else, such as the presence of the Russian language, user-friendliness of the interface, external design, is secondary.

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Modern antivirus programs, such as Kaspersky Anti-Virus, include a built-in firewall. But you can download the firewall for Windows 7 separately from any antivirus solution. Moreover, the OS has built-in functions to protect your PC, but you should not rely only on their reliability.

Why do you need a firewall?

As we have already noted, a firewall is an integral link in the security chain not only of Windows 7 devices, but in general of all devices that have access to the Internet. Viruses and other threats await us on this network, which are difficult to fight alone. You can learn more about the need for a firewall on a PC from the following video:

The firewall prevents your computer from becoming infected even before the malware gets to your computer. HDD. Antivirus programs can recognize the virus when it is already on the disk, and the firewall can block its downloading. With a powerful firewall you can:

• Secure your use of the Internet;
• Configure automatic blocking of file downloads;
• Protect your PC from viruses and spyware;

Among all the firewalls for Windows 7, we can highlight . This firewall stands out from all its competitors in that it is free and very powerful. But its power does not prevent the program from working so quietly that after installation you can completely forget about the presence of a firewall on your device. At the same time, Comodo Firewall has rich capabilities for fine tuning. The program was recognized as the best firewall for Windows 7, and that is why on this page you can download the Comodo Firewall firewall and not some other.

Download Firewall for free

It's no secret that most users limit themselves to protecting their computer by installing an antivirus, forgetting that in addition to the threat of PC infection, there is a threat of using the victim computer as a bot machine.

Therefore for more full protection computer, in addition to installing an antivirus, we recommend installing a firewall, firewall or firewall - these are all names for the same thing software.

Ashampoo Firewall

The first in our review will be a product from German developers – Ashampoo Firewall.

The product is activated by entering a code that is sent to the user’s mailbox after registering on the developer’s website.

Immediately after installation, you will be asked to configure the program according to the available simplified “Easy Mode” or advanced mode “Expert Mode”.

The principle of the firewall is as follows: for each application, an allowing or denying rule must be generated, which is processed by the firewall.

If an application for which a rule is not assigned attempts to establish a connection, the firewall warns the user - offering to create a rule.

This statement is true when the firewall is in learning mode.

When this mode is disabled, applications for which no rules are assigned will be blocked automatically.

Advantages:

Free;

Low consumption of system resources;

Friendly user interface;

Semi-automatic configuration is possible.

Flaws:

Not compatible with some antiviruses;

The firewall is installed without entering any passwords or registering, as is the case with Ashampoo Firewall.

Rules for application access are created manually.

We recommend not to postpone this procedure until later, because... After installation, Ashampoo Firewall may remember some applications and programs as unverified, as a result of which the latter may not work correctly or not work at all.

Advantages:

Free;

Simple and reliable.

Flaws:

Lack of updates;

Lack of Russian-language interface;

Manual setting.

Comodo Firewall

Unlike its predecessors, we have a fairly powerful, multifunctional firewall, which is paired with an antivirus - Comodo Antivirus.

The firewall database is quite impressive and contains information on more than 13 thousand programs that have security risks.

The set of functions is standard - protection against Trojan programs, malicious scripts, support for monitoring incoming/outgoing traffic, as well as network activity of installed programs, DLL libraries, the ability to hide a computer on the network, control over software and driver updates.

Note! Additional features are a detailed report of system events, integration into the Windows Security Center, the ability to run applications in a specially designated environment for their safe execution - a sandbox.

Despite the wide range of different settings, the firewall has not lost its user-friendly interface; each option has a corresponding description.

Advantages:

Free;

Possibility of batch installation of firewall and antivirus;

Simple Russian-language interface with tips.

Flaws:

Increased operating system loading time, loss of PC performance;

The program is not removed from the system correctly, leaving behind a lot of “garbage”.

Outpost Firewall Pro

Software product from the Russian company Agnitum. To familiarize yourself with the capabilities of the firewall, the developer provides a free 30-day version.

Price licensed copy For home use for a year is 899 rubles, a license for 2 years will cost 1399 rubles.

A distinctive feature of the firewall is the ability to detect both known malicious programs and new ones that are not yet in the databases.

This function is possible thanks to a multi-level approach, which involves the use of proactive blocking based on analysis of program behavior and signature methods for detecting network activity.

In addition to the organized self-protection function of the firewall from being completely or partially disabled or modified by malicious code, the program also provides this protection for the operating system and installed programs and applications.

In general, the firewall is quite good; after spending some time on proper configuration, you can later forget about its existence; the program will provide a fairly high degree of protection for your PC.

Advantages:

Multi-level security approach with proactive protection;

The speed of the PC after installation remains at the same level;

Availability of a Russian-language interface with tips.

Flaws:

SpyShelter Firewall

The program is available for review for 14 days after installation, during which time the user must decide whether the program is worth the money.

An annual license of the program will cost 25 euros, although the company provides such an advantageous offer as purchasing a lifetime license at a price of 55 euros for 1 PC.

There is also an offer for 5 PCs - the licensing price is 65 and 165 euros, respectively.

The license price includes technical support for the product. Language for communication is English.

Note! In addition to the standard functions inherent in other firewalls, incl. the presence of proactive protection, it should be noted that there are also more advanced capabilities - protection from malware creating screenshots from the screen, webcam, and recording sound from the built-in microphone. There is a function to encrypt keystrokes.

Advantages:

Availability of proactive protection;

Installing the program does not affect system performance;

Flaws:

The need to purchase a license;

English interface.

Windows 7 Firewall

Firewall for Windows 7: review of the best programs