22 free firewall software
Today I’ll show you 20+ free firewall software.
Firewall software allow you to protect your computer from intrusions from the Internet as well as warn you when programs try to connect to Internet from your computer. It has become increasingly popular with numerous programs installing spyware that try to call home without your knowing. Some of these free firewalls are free only for personal use.
- Agnitum
The FREE version of Outpost Firewall offers a basic protection solution for casual web surfers and low budget systems. - Atelier Web Firewall Tester
It probes the protection provided by your Personal Firewall software using six different tests. Each test uses a different technique for gaining access to the outside World. Techniques are differently rated, according to their sophistication, and your Personal Firewall is doing. - Comodo Personal Firewall
Comodo Personal Firewall is a Windows 2000/XP firewall, that filters both inbound as well as outbound traffic. Among its features are the ability to detect application hijacking attempts via its application and component behaviour monitor, self protection against termination attempts by malware, protection of your PC during startup, etc. Note: they require you to activate the firewall and supply your email address. - EchoLink
It requires that your router or firewall allow inbound and outbound UDP to destination ports 5198 and 5199, and outbound TCP to port 5200. Source ports are dynamically assigned. - EULAlyzer
It can analyze license agreements in seconds, and provide a detailed listing of potentially interesting words and phrases. Discover if the software you’re about to install displays pop-up ads, transmits personally identifiable information, uses unique identifiers to track you. Free for personal and educational use. - Filseclab Personal Firewall Professional Edition
This Windows firewall filters inbound and outbound traffic. You can configure which applications on your system is allowed to access the Internet, although by default, it automatically allows certain applications (such as those from the company itself, or those signed by Microsoft) outbound access without question. - Firestarter - Free Linux Firewall Tool
Firestarter is an easy-to-use free firewall tool for Linux that has a wizard that allows you to customize your firewall, a real-time firewall monitor that allows you to view intrusion attempts, a graphical interface that works under GNOME and KDE, and support for Linux kernels 2.4 and 2.6. For those who aren’t brave enough to muck around with netfilter / iptables, Firestarter is one way to set up your system so that it is protected from intrusions. - GhostWall
GhostWall is a packet filtering firewall with low resource usage and latency. It works on both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows. - Guarddog
Guarddog is a firewall configuration utility for Linux iptables. It also lets you maintain and modify the firewall in place. It uses a “what is not explicitly allowed, is denied” philosophy. The software is released under the GNU GPL. - Jetico Personal Firewall
Jetico Personal Firewall is a Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP firewall that has network packet filters, network events filters (that allows you to block application level events) and process activity filters (that hopefully blocks application hijacking attempts where a trojan uses your browser to send information to the internet). - Kiwi Syslog Daemon
This is a freeware Syslog Daemon for Windows. It receives, filters, logs, displays and forwards Syslog messages and SNMP traps from hosts such as routers, switches, Unix hosts and any other syslog enabled device. - Online Armor Free Edition New
Online Armor Free is a Windows NT/2000/XP firewall with a built-in host instrusion prevention (HIPS) system. It also has a limited form of keylogger detection and includes protection against script/worm attacks. In addition, it features self-protection against tampering and termination attempts by malware. The current version of the firewall, at the time I write this, performed well in independent leak tests. - Omniquad Personal Firewall
Omniquad Personal Firewall is freely available and contains the ability to monitor inbound and outbound traffic. It allows you to set up different levels of trusted zones and will ask for your authorization before allowing local software to initiate connections to the Internet. - PeerGuardian 2
This is an IP blocker for Windows. PeerGuardian 2 integrates support for multiple lists, list editing, automatic updates, and blocking all of IPv4 (TCP, UDP, ICMP, etc), making it the safest and easiest way to protect your privacy. - PC Tools Firewall Plus
This is a free personal firewall for Windows that provides inbound and outbound filtering. The firewall allows you to create rudimentary application rules (only to allow or disallow an application) and rules for the packet filter (where you can configure the ports allowed, etc). You will need to supply your email address to get a free registration code to run the software after the trial period. (Scroll down to the bottom of the linked page to find the free firewall.) - R-Firewall - Personal Firewall
This is a free program comparable with commercial firewalls! R-Firewall is an effective and easy-to-use solution to secure your on-line activity. It protects a computer connected to a local network and/or to the Internet against any intrusions, attacks, trojans, spyware, and other external and internal threats. - SmoothWall Express
This is an open source firewall distribution based on the GNU/Linux operating system. Linux is the ideal choice for security systems; it is well proven, secure, highly configurable and freely††† available as open source code. - SoftPerfect Personal Firewall
SoftPerfect Personal Firewall is a rule-based Windows network firewall that filters IP and non-IP traffic, supports configurations for multiple network adaptors, has a learning mode and comes with a set of predefined rules. - Sunbelt Personal Firewall (formerly Kerio Personal Firewall)
Sunbelt Personal Firewall is free for home use. It controls traffic from your computer to the Internet (thus useful for blocking spyware, adware, and other software that call home to the Internet behind your back) as well as traffic from the Internet to your computer. The program works as a trial for 30 days and then reverts to the free version after that. This is a Windows firewall. - Sygate Personal Firewall
This firewall allows you to set policies regarding applications that may be allowed to access the Internet, trusted IP addresses, ports, protocols, etc. This is a Windows firewall. Warning: this firewall is no longer maintained. The link above points to a third party download site (Simtel) that loads pop-up windows. - WIPFW
WIPFW is a packet filtering and accounting system for Windows. It is based on FreeBSD’s IPFW. - ZoneAlarm
ZoneAlarm is an easy to use and free personal firewall that is used by many people on the Internet. The free version allows you to decide which applications you can allow to access the Internet, but does not allow you to block specific IP addresses. (Look carefully before you click - the “basic PC protection” link is the one that is free.) This is a Windows firewall. If you want comprehensive protection for your computer, you might want to consider their commercial offering, ZoneAlarm Security Suitewhich includes a firewall as well as antivirus, antispyware, antitrojan , identity theft protection, phishing and spam blocker, etc.
If you know more useful free firewall software, you can tell us in comments. Thank you.
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