The best non intrusive firewall?

[OhCommonNow]

What is the best firewall right now that doesn't ask if you want to complete an action every 2 seconds? I tried kaspersky and it was like that. Free or not doesn't matter.

[johns0]

Windows 10 firewall control.

[ron spencer]

Windows 10 firewall control.

Windows 10???

You mean from this site?

http://www.binisoft.org/wfc.php

[johns0]

http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/
From that site.Been using it for years.

[pandy]

My mother use Comodo Firewall - it's quite OK and for sure not too frequent for asking user intervention.

[Poppa_Meth]

Comodo isn't what it use to be, but it's still a good firewall. Very advanced though so initial setup can be tricky. I'm using Glasswire on Win10. It uses default Windows firewall setting, but gives you a clear view of what is going on if desired. You can also manually block the activity from happening in the future in the free version. Paid version has more real-time control.

[OhCommonNow]

Appreciate the suggestions guys. Anymore?

[ron spencer]

There are these so far:

http://www.binisoft.org/wfc.php
http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
https://www.glasswire.com/

I have only tried first one...other ones sound nice as well.

Note that Windows 10 Firewall control seems to be locked to your machine...their English is not very good:

open the Registration form (W10FC TrayIcon/RightClick/Register)
put the VFC/XFC..... License code into the field at item 2
press "online" at item 3 (*)
check registration code (**) and press "register" at item 4 to store the code within the program.

(*) registration code or error message is displayed within a couple of seconds. "By e-mail" option will require manual up to 48+ hours processing at our side. So, the online method is more preferable.
(**) descriptive error message may be shown instead of registration code. Most probably because of (a) syntax/case errors in the License code, (b) incorrect usage of a License code from another version/product.
Re-registration is required after upgrade or re-installation onto a different media (backup restoration causes the media virtually changed sometimes). The registration code change confirms the re-registration was required for the reasons above.

Maybe johns0 can let us know on this.

[usually_quiet]

ZoneAlarm has been fairly unobtrusive. (The free version delivers pop-up adds once in a while encouraging users to purchase the standard version of the product.)

[Poppa_Meth]

I'll note that on Glasswire, I've never seen an ad popup. Even though there is a free and paid version the free version does not prompt you to upgrade, but leaves the option in the menu if you decide to do so.

Also, on Comodo, I have an older V7 build on my Win7 rig that I have few issues with. I tried to install the latest version on my Win10 rig when I first built it, but ran into a ton of issues. I had to do a lot of manual config to get them sorted and still ended up with the Windows Time Servers unable to sync for no apparent reason. I finally got rid of it in favor of Glasswire. These issues were late last year and may well have been sorted by now. I also use the Comodo browser at work and I've noticed it keeps pushing a popup to install their AV. Not sure if the firewall has similar marketing now or not. One other thing to be aware of with Comodo is the need to turn off the "feature" of tagging every file is processes with alternate stream data. This plays havoc with backup software since the date stamps are all changed. This may only be in effect if you use the HIPS functions in addition to the firewall.

[ron spencer]

I'll note that on Glasswire, I've never seen an ad popup. Even though there is a free and paid version the free version does not prompt you to upgrade, but leaves the option in the menu if you decide to do so.

Also, on Comodo, I have an older V7 build on my Win7 rig that I have few issues with. I tried to install the latest version on my Win10 rig when I first built it, but ran into a ton of issues. I had to do a lot of manual config to get them sorted and still ended up with the Windows Time Servers unable to sync for no apparent reason. I finally got rid of it in favor of Glasswire. These issues were late last year and may well have been sorted by now. I also use the Comodo browser at work and I've noticed it keeps pushing a popup to install their AV. Not sure if the firewall has similar marketing now or not. One other thing to be aware of with Comodo is the need to turn off the "feature" of tagging every file is processes with alternate stream data. This plays havoc with backup software since the date stamps are all changed. This may only be in effect if you use the HIPS functions in addition to the firewall.

Will Glasswire ask you as to what to do for a program that wants to access your LAN or the Internet? Or do you have to manually config everything. Does it have HIPS?

[Poppa_Meth]

The free Glasswire will not ask. It will block incoming and allow outgoing per the normal rules of the Windows firewall. It will popup a small notification near the clock the first time a program accesses the network or after the program version has changed. This popup is small and quickly fades, but you can then open the GUI, find that notification and click the firewall icon to block future connections. The paid version does have realtime interaction for blocking connections. Glasswire is just a control program for the Windows firewall so it does not have a HIPS component.

The paid tiers are listed HERE with the features of each. The nice part of Glasswire is this is a one time fee, not a subscription. They also have discounted packages for multiple computers. So far I have not had a need for more than the free version on my Win10 rig, which is mainly used for gaming.

[ron spencer]

This Glasswire looks interesting....not sure I need to bloat of Comodo anymore...not sure. Comodo seems to only be using 8 meg though now. How much does Glasswire use?

[Poppa_Meth]

This Glasswire looks interesting....not sure I need to bloat of Comodo anymore...not sure. Comodo seems to only be using 8 meg though now. How much does Glasswire use?

Using a total of about 130 MB right now. Glasswire is very "pretty" with a lot of GUI features. Probably a good bit of why it runs heavier. It's never bothered me, but I do have 16 GB of memory on this machine.

[mike20021969]

Check out Privacyware's Private Firewall (just 3.57 MB):
http://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html

[pandy]

Check out Privacyware's Private Firewall (just 3.57 MB):
http://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html

It is very annoying (but i use it regularly due license) - some problems with loosing information about process and blocking without notifying... side to this it asking almost all actions (which i understand is opposite to OP intention).

[mike20021969]

it asking almost all actions (which i understand is opposite to OP intention).

Adjusting settings will cure that: File>Settings>Basic.

Did you uncheck...
Standard Control: Alert and Auto-Respond
Disable Auto Response
Always display alerts for outgoing connection
...?

Personally, I want full control over what is coming in and going out my ports.

[ron spencer]

Did you settle on a firewall?

[MdosS]

Basic Firewalls

[ron spencer]

Basic Firewalls

What is this?????

[Baldrick]

Basic Firewalls

What is this?????

Spammer? But no links...

[TimA-C]

I'd learn how to use Kaspersky properly . . . or stop doing/using whatever it is you're doing/using that's causing all the alerts.