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CNET Editors' review
Windows Firewall and other free firewalls do a pretty good job of keeping threats away from your computer, but many users prefer the extra security and support of a premium firewall. Emsisoft's Online Armor is a shareware firewall suite that offers strong protection against malicious programs, hacker attacks, and other privacy and security threats, but it's also designed to be as unobtrusive as possible while doing it. Its real-time protection means no lengthy scans; instead, Online Armor evaluates each program as it runs. The program has plenty of configuration options, especially in its Advanced Mode. For instance, you can block traffic from specific countries known to host hackers. There's a good Help file and other resources to sort it all out for you. Online Armor is free to try for 30 days. The latest release supports Windows 8.
You'll need to temporarily disable your antivirus software while installing Online Armor, though the program plays nicely with most antivirus tools when it's up and running. Online Armor has four main components: Firewall, Web Shield, Program Guard, and Anti-Keylogger. Users can choose from three modes: Standard, Advances, and Banking Mode; there's also a Learning Mode that creates rules automatically. You can disable all protections except for the firewall by activating or deactivating the proprietary HIPS system, too. Online Armor's configuration dialog serves as its main interface, but we found the best way to access and manage both the firewall and other features is through its extensive System Tray menu, which we could open by right-clicking either the program's main tray icon or the Firewall Status icon.
Online Armor works like other robust firewalls we've tried, adding programs to its white list when you OK them to run. Its pop-up notifications give more options than some similar tools. We found Online Armor's default filters to be a bit stronger than some similar tools, too, which is good but requires you to pay attention to what it flags. Is Online Armor worth paying for over popular free firewalls? It's hard to prove a negative, but what's the price on your data, your privacy, and your identity?
Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of Emsisoft Online Armor Firewall 6. The trial version is limited to 30 days.
Publisher's Description
From Emsisoft:
Online Armor is a powerful security software that protects your computer from unwanted external access. It prevents hackers from accessing your computer, stops malicious programs invading into your computer and sending your data over the internet, protects you during your online banking and transactions, and safeguards your identity. The software is easy to install and manage, and does not slow down your computer performance. The freeware version has slightly limited functionality and no automatic updates.
What's new in this version:
- File & Registry Shield: Users can create rules to limit the access of certain application groups to specified files, folders or registry keys.
- Completely reworked GUI: Online Armor 6.0 was adapted to the design of the other Emsisoft products and shows a lot of usage simplifications. Additionally the readability of alarm windows was optimized.
- Improved self-protection on x86 and x64 systems.
- Over 400 detail improvements based on user and tester feedback. See all new features
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 543 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-4 of 4
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"Works very well with Avast"
Version: Online Armor Free 6.0
Pros
not to intrusive
Cons
None for free
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"Really impressed with this software"
Version: Online Armor Free 6.0
Pros
Easy to use
Easy to setup
Option to block all traffic
Easily learns rules
Easy Learning ModeCons
No sandbox feature
Summary
While I am still on my free trial of the pro version, will most likely purchase it, outstanding, easy to use software which gives me nothing but pleasure to use.
Would like a sandbox, but I have this covered with Avast, so not a big deal. -
"Does everything I ask for and then some"
Version: Online Armor Free 6.0
Pros
-Scored a perfect 340/ 340 in comodo leak test with no configuration changes.
-light on system
-not as pesky as comodo firewall.
-regular updates with no restart, user input necessary.
-the free firewall comes with anti-keylogger, program guard.
-works well with avg, avast and avira free.
-firewall status shows connections your computer has as well as outgoing and incoming banddwidths and which programs are using that bandwidth.
-easy to block programs access to the internet.Cons
the program guard can be a bit overzealous. no big deal, right click on online armor icon and untick program guard.
Summary
I have been using emsisoft online armor free firewall with avast 7 free without any glitches for almost 2 months now.
did I say this is the best security product I've ever used? yes, it is.
My system is an X64, windows 7.
I use peer to peer (utorrent) for downloading legitiate programs like open office, I connect to VPN to watch BBC programming and this firewall handles it all.
No complaints whatsoever.
emsisoft is an excellent company. this is the best firewall I've ever used. SICK PRODUCT.
Updated on Feb 6, 2013 -
"Great so far."
Version: Online Armor Free 6.0
Pros
Installs pretty easy and I used the Comodo leak test on it.I had to answer the pop ups and it scored 340 out of 340.Windows 7 blocks 190 and also Norton IS 2013 blocked 190.So far nice and smooth without any pop ups except for the leak test.I have tried privatefirewall and Comodo.Comodo is great but for more advanced users.Comodo forces you to make some decisions and restricts some clean programs.With Private firewall I was busy doing something and I got a pop up and I did not answer it in time and it auto decided to block Intel and my system crashed and it was a pain to uninstall.It is good but a lot of input by users because it only has a small list of known safe programs.
Cons
It has less features than Comodo.It does not offer a lot of set up configurations but strong H.I.P.'s.It is pretty simple and lets safe programs have internet acccess.It did not recognize one of my start up programs and I just added it to allowed.It has less features than the paid version,like support,web shield,phishing,mail shield and DNS spoofing,etc.I would suggest Comodo highly if you are a more advanced user want more security features and configurations but a lot of times Comodo asks me questions I really don't have answers for.
Summary
It auto decides a lot of things for you but if it is an unkown program you will get a pop up for instuctions but so far It is my favorite firewall for balance of ease of use and security.
Do not use for Windows 7 64 bit.I spent a few hours fixing up my machine after it crashed.I had to do system restore twice and uninstall and reinstall programs.I take it back Comodo is the Firewall king/stable and the highest possible security for free or paid.I was looking for a good alternative to Comodo and 2 other free firewalls have crashed my system.
Updated on Jan 24, 2013
Updated on Jan 24, 2013Do not use for Windows 7 64 bit.I spent a few hours fixing up my machine after it crashed.I had to do system restore twice and uninstall and reinstall programs.I take it back Comodo is the Firewall king/stable and the highest possible security for free or paid.I was looking for a good alternative to Comodo and 2 other free firewalls have crashed my system.
Results 1-4 of 4
