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20 Aug 2008
Review Rating:
Platform: Windows XP, Windows Vista
Manufacturer: Webroot
Size: 3.7MB
Number of Downloads: 5115
Price: Free for personal-use only
Most modern broadband routers ship with a hardware-based firewall and, as anyone in security will agree, a hardware firewall is always more secure than a software-only firewall. For this reason, many users now forget to install or turn on their Windows firewall, thinking that their hardware firewall is keeping their system safe.
However, this isn’t always the case. Some hardware-based firewalls are not configured out-of-the-box, so you are either protected against every possible attack, not at all, or somewhere in the middle (ie. some ports are enabled, some are disabled). If you’re running your own home network, each computer will need to be configured individually. This can be achieved from your hardware-based firewall. You can configure your firewall to allow or disallow traffic, depending on your computer. This isn’t always that easy to understand. It’s more simple configuring each PC using the firewall installed on the computer.
Webroot Desktop Firewall 5 was previously a commercial-grade software firewall that is now available for free. It’s superb for installing on your home computer, but it only ships with a free license for 1 PC and for personal-use only.
This is the latest 5.8 release containing a number of new features including automatic network detection, recognition of trusted software, better protection for your PC and much more.
Note that you to register through Webroot in order to obtain your serial code to use Desktop Firewall. If you already own Webroot Spy Sweeper, and have that installed on your machine, Desktop Firewall will not need a separate serial code.
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Do you agree?
Good Firewall
I haven't tried this firewall with all applications, as one person mentioned Teamspeak not working. What I have tried this with, it worked. Plus, unlike my leaktest 1.2 with PCTools, when I denied program access, Leaktest could not make it to the internet, whereas it was with PCTools. Very friendly firewall, red/yellow/green light controls. Specific protocol access as well. Other than a specific program issue, I can't imagine this not being my next windows firewall.
Posted by: Brian 24 Aug 2009
Best free firewall for Windows Vista!
This is by far the BEST free firewall for Windows Vista today. I´ve tried Comodo, and found it to be shockingly user-unfriendly, not to say enerving - in 2 hours it listed almost 2000 alerts for "my attention", and I couldn´t see the pics of my contacts on Windows Live Messenger, even after unblocking it. I´ve tried PC Tools, and it blocked my connection completely, and crashed my computer when I clicked on Internet Explorer - thanks God I created a System Restore point, as the software hadn´t created one. Installing and setting Webroot Desktop Firewall took 5 minutes, and it feels like it isn´t there - the computer is just like before, and all apps connected easily - even though I´m still on "Training Mode". Great firewall! Really the best (free for Vista)!
Posted by: I Love Vista 09 May 2008
Great Firewall, free support
I'm not a computer expert, but I enjoy using this firewall. I did have an issue getting it to work with my email provider (I use Outlook Express), but I called tech support and they helped me. You can't beat a free product with free tech support. I also have Spy Sweeper, so maybe that is why they were so nice to me. I went to a website that tests your firewall, and it passed with flying colors.
Posted by: Morning Glory Seed 12 Dec 2007
Perfect
This product is just perfect and highly configurable. I've love it since from the beginning. It's easy to use though. Well done and thanks for the suggestions.
Posted by: Milly 27 Oct 2007
What a POS !
Don't waste your time on this one! This product says it's for personal use indicating that the home user should be able to use it. But a home user will NOT be able to effectively configure this product for several applications that may need to access the internet, etc. rendering them non-functional. One example would be let's say a gamer wants to setup TeamSpeak. Even altogether allowing all traffic while the firewall is engaged won't allow that application to connect to the IP addressed needed to function, unless you exit the firewall. No amount of manual confuring will allow this, amongst other applications to work. Other FREE personal firewalls are much easier to navigate and configure that won't end up making the user scratch their head in trying to figure out why their apps aren't connecting to their services the way that they should.
Posted by: ShinSei 23 Oct 2007