- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 7 32-bit, Windows XP
- Date added: November 05, 2009
- Total Downloads: 510,638
- Downloads last week: 2,289
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 309 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET staff on November 03, 2009
Online Armor Free is the freeware version of Tall Emu's award-winning Online Armor firewall software. Tall Emu, an Australian company, specializes in technical and security support for small and medium-size businesses. Its free firewall is based on their premium enterprise firewall and is billed as being unusually powerful and effective for freeware. The premium version of Online Armor certainly packs some impressive recommendations, including five cows at Tucows.com and the top recommendation of "Computerworld."
Online Armor has a professional feel that is typical of freeware versions of advanced security tools, with the same basic interface and functionality as the company's premium software, only without nonessential extra features, just pared down to what it needs to secure your computer from outside attacks. Tall Emu's Web site offers considerable help with friendly touches, such as screenshots that you can click on to "embiggen" (a word from "The Simpsons") as well as video tutorials and live support from Tall Emu staff and users forums, should you need them. It's easy to configure, even though it packs plenty of options.
Online Armor Free lacks some of the features offered in the paid Premium and PlusPlus versions, such as antivirus and anti-malware protection, phishing filters, online banking protection, email filtering, and other features that your antivirus software probably already has, or should. What it does offer is an unusually robust firewall that can protect your system from a wide range of sophisticated attacks. Since it's free, you can't blame Tall Emu if you're unprotected and you get hacked.
Publisher's description
From Tall Emu :Online Armor is a powerful personal firewall, with HIPS and a host of other security features to keep your PC clear of infections and running smoothly. Online Armor is designed to be easy to use for beginners and offers powerful performance.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 309 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 4 of 4 user reviewsSee all 4 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Online Armor Free 4.0.0.10
Pros: Great feel. Does its job, without bankrupting system resources. As a mater of fact, I cant see it is using hardly any. Only a few alerts in 4 days use. Remembers what it is told. The wizard does a superb job of setting up rules. I love the Firewall.
Cons: Only had one nag screen, but in the lower left hand corner is a ck box to never show this again. Its a nag to consider the paid version. Cant blame them for that.
Summary: If you are gonna use a firewall, get this one. I've tried them all, this is w/o a doubt the best... Free or paid. Will pay for this one if the free version is ever discontinued, but see no reason to pay for features I will not use or need. Small to ... read more >>
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Version: Online Armor Free 4.0.0.10
"Excellent firewall and status monitor."
Pros: I love the status monitor and the thoroughness of the firewall.
Cons: So far there are no cons.
Summary: Installation was seamless and the software quickly convinces you that nothing is going on that it isn't watching. The status and traffic monitor for the first time makes me comfortable that I know what my computer is doing all of the time. Nice.
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Version: Online Armor Free 4.0.0.10
"Excellent. No other way to describe it."
Pros: Automatically configures itself, scans for any threatening processes or apps, excellent and complete UI, easy to navigate and look at.
Cons: None that I can find.
Summary: No other firewall that I have used for free has ever set itself up automatically. No other firewall I have used has also provided one click access to a comprehensive status and traffic report. And no other firewall has done such a great job at cre... read more >>
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Version: Online Armor Free 4.0.0.10
"Gives real protection to d Internet"
Pros: I was using K7Antivirus full version but my internet surfing was nt safe with this,, Online armor make it safe.
Cons: In free version, some features nt works properly......
- See all 4 user reviews Write review
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