- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: August 20, 2009
- Total Downloads: 1,084,781
- Downloads last week: 5,730
- See full specifications
A newer version of PC Tools Firewall Plus is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 377 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
This freeware firewall won't replace user vigilance, but intermediate users will appreciate its configurability. From the primary interface to the packet content logs, simplicity is the key to PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition.
You don't "set and forget" any good firewall. This application makes it easy to set filtering rules, provided you know what you're doing. That's why we don't recommend PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition for novice users. This program expects you know the uses of UDP, ICMP, ARP, TCP, and a few other computer protocols. However, adding a new filter is as easy as answering a few questions in a wizard.
There are numerous filters preset to block many known problems. You'll only find a brief explanation for each, so you'll need to research elsewhere anything you don't understand. This application's Help file is a simple quick-start guide. Novice users will be overwhelmed and advanced users underwhelmed, but intermediate users wanting basic filtering would do well to install this firewall.
Publisher's description
From PC Tools :PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition is a powerful personal free firewall for Microsoft Windows that protects your computer from hackers and intruders. Firewalls control the network traffic in and out of your PC by monitoring applications that connect to the network. Firewall Plus can stop Trojans, backdoors, and keyloggers from damaging your computer and stealing your private information. PC Tools Firewall Plus is advanced technology designed specially for people, not experts. Powerful prevention against attacks and known exploits is activated by default and advanced users can also easily create their own packet filtering rules to customize the network defenses. The program is recommended for use alongside of AntiSpyware and Antivirus software like AVG or Spyware Doctor to protect PC against Spyware, hackers, worms, and viruses.
What's new in this version:
Version 4 improves leak test protection.
More popular Firewall Software downloads
- 74,486 downloads 1. ZoneAlarm
- 71,685 downloads 2. ZoneAlarm
- 6,936 downloads 3. Agnitum Outpost Firewall Free
- 5,730 downloads 4. PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition
- 3,673 downloads 5. Ashampoo FireWall Free
- See all Firewall Software downloads
User reviews of PC Tools Firewall Plus 5.0.0.38
- Average user rating: 3.1 stars out of 377 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 5 of 13 user reviewsSee all 13 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: PC Tools Firewall Plus 5.0.0.38
"Lightweight, but lacking in some respects"
Pros: Good firewall, doesn't interrupt windows update.
Cons: Does cause PC to run a little slow
Summary: PC tools firewall is a good firewall, but can use a little touchup it needs to block more threats and use less memory.
-
Version: PC Tools Firewall Plus 5.0.0.38
Pros: This version is so good that it will freeze up your computer, any one who does not their computer to work should use this present version of this firewall. I have decided to give this to my enemy.
Cons: Give this software to our enemy and you will have taken your revenge.
Summary: A heap of dung made by mentally demented software team who require to have them selves to be checked by a psychiatrist.
-
Version: PC Tools Firewall Plus 5.0.0.38
Pros: It's a good firewall, and it's free too.
Cons: The latest version causes problems with my OpenVPN connections and some other applications as well...have to uninstall it.
Hope they fixes this problem asap.Summary: It's comparable with those commercial firewall software available in the market. Except the latest version seems have some problems with some applications such as OpenVPN.
Hope they fixes this issues soon. -
Version: PC Tools Firewall Plus 5.0.0.38
"Freezing applications that require internet connection"
Pros: quite handy with a set of pre-defined firewall rules for novice users.
Cons: After installing this firewall, IE and other applications would freeze up for a moment whenever they try to connect to the internet. They are still usable but the delay is unbearable as this happens every time you load up a new web page.
Summary: This firewall works but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless the intolerable freezing is fixed.
-
Version: PC Tools Firewall Plus 5.0.0.38
Pros: It seems to be quite effective. It is a good firewall for those who are computer savvy. It learns as it goes, requiring you to often approve or deny access to various parts of your operating system.
Cons: If you are not very computer savvy, then you will have troubles with this firewall. It is somewhat complicated to have and use as a firewall because it needs to learn what you want to allow to run on your computer. Very complicated.
Summary: New at computers or not very computer savvy? Then stay away from this one. But if you are very computer savvy, then this should be a good one.
- See all 13 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Previous Versions:
