Privatefirewall for Windows

User Reviews

• Works very well, until it doesn't

  dbareisMay 17, 2016

  Pros

  When it was installed it worked well for a week or so

  Cons

  It completely prevented my computer from going to any external network resources over multiple reboots. It looks like it hung as the process was running but nothing in the tray, I initially took this as another in a long line of symptoms.. After many frustrating days I uninstalled it and surprise everything working again.

  Summary

  I suppose if it happens again I know what happened, will give it another try.

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• BRILLIANT ! . = WORKS LIKE A CHARM ON WINDOWS XP SP3 =

  micebergJanuary 16, 2016

  Pros

  It is ideal for blocking programs that activate & run silently in the background and are siphoning your web connections bandwidth. You will notice the difference when you manually go in and block every single application executable you HAVE, except of course your web browser or a job-related type program such as a shared CRM or similar. You deny both IN and OUT online accessability.. Consider this:: If you are not RIGHT NOW, with any particular application, experiencing an IMMEDIATE problem that you can ONLY resolve by using that program's "online automatic update", then block the program. ALL THE WAY. Make sure you do this for ALL programs you have installed, yes including Windows brand software, and yes including those little dinky apps too like CCleaner or CPU/RAM Usage Widget Thingie or etc etc.. I promise you once you put the reins on ALL these apps you thought were sweet little angels behind your back you'll be amazed at the new pep in your pc's step.. This thing works.

  Cons

  There are no real cons here in my opinion, but I can tell you a few issues that may be helpful for you to know in advance. I would post screenshots or links to screenshots that SHOW rather than tell you but I tried that once before on this site and it was an abysmal failure. Issue #1 is to IMMEDIATELY go into the Settings area of Main Menu (click the GEAR icon, right below FILE menu header) and click into the 2nd Radio button which will switch you from default setting (Standard Control...etc etc) instead to "MANUAL Control...etc etc" - Below the radio buttons (there's only those 2 anyway) are 7 rows of checkbox features. Check the following 3 ---> [] Disable Trusted Publisher Feature (more sizzle than steak & you'll be leaner & meaner without it,, trust me)) [] Disable StartUp Splash Screen (this is one of those nuisances bellyachers whine about in their posts... cuz they're illiterate or just plain dumb I guess) and [] Disable Auto-Upda

  Summary

  You dont need to be a TECH to spot a TRAINWRECK... Well, this AINT it. . I have one final piece of GREAT NEWS for you if you are still reading this... If you actually believe what some of these whiny complainy people posted in the (very few) negative reviews remember that they have told you NOTHING about what a TRAINWRECK of a pc they may have installed this onto.. That's right, for all any reader here knows,, those people have a pile of junk computer they bought as "distressed merchandise" from their buddy "Bro" who hangs out by the alley back door of the local FLEA MARKET... But they're NEVER gonna cough up the real skinny about THAT,,, nahhh, never... If you HAVE a decent head on your shoulders, you WILL benefit with "correct usage" that you DON'T NEED TO BE A BRAIN SURGEON to figure out.. This is an actual review by an independent real person, not an employee or in any way directly affiliated by the software publisher or distribution partners of PRIVATE FIREWALL Version 7 The Version I Installed:::: Version 7.0.30.3 PC & Manufacturer ::::::: Dell D610 Latitude Laptop System RAM ::::::::::::::::: 2 GB System Processor :::::::: Intel Celeron (Pentium 4 SINGLE Core) Operating System ::::::::: Windows XP SP3 I really do SINCERELY credit this app with 5 MUCH DESERVED STARS... It runs FLAWLESSLY,,, and once you get to understand how to get the "full batters swing" of harnessing it's BUILT IN ROBUST FEATURES... you'll REALLY be glad you listened to this review..

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• Constant crashes and update requests

  lapiswolfDecember 23, 2015

  Pros

  - Free - Simple interface - Secure

  Cons

  - Grey-screens constantly after choosing to allow or block a program, with the alert staying up for an extended period of time - Asks to update every single time it's opened - Only gives 60 seconds to allow or block traffic

  Summary

  Ultimately too irritating and buggy, especially because of the crashes.

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• avoid. rules don't work.

  October 9, 2015

  Pros

  don't know.

  Cons

  app rules don't work.

  Summary

  after install and reboot. I set the app rule to block all chrome access. PF showed the setting was taken w/ a red X on Chrome, but it did not stop chrome Internet access. Did the same thing with Adobe. So avoid!!! it is junk.

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• Decent but not that good and since its discontinued...

  IcefinityJune 3, 2015

  Pros

  -Nice packet filtering -When a application connects to the internet it pauses the request of the app till u say if you want to block or not , thus making the app run normally without crashing or any inconvenience -Very Low Ram and CPU usage but some HDD activity... -Very customizable (I liked that ALOT) Disable firewall log and process monitor, Manual control+Disable trusted publishers and i'm in love -Very good and simple interface

  Cons

  -Annoying notification icon that can ruin a movie watching experience with that intermitent red effect -Worst problem i had is when connecting to the internet sometimes it would give a 691 error or other errors thus not allowing me to connect to the internet untill i restarted the PC (never had this problem before or after unisntalling it) -Applications sometimes loses conectivity to me because of the packet filtering thus crashing it and making me have an unpleasant experience -Sometimes the application asks me to allow or block the same application that i already allowed/blocked -The notification is not very effective when in games (you must alt+tab when the game will have problems to see if you needed to allow/block something) -Some minor problems regarding connectivity

  Summary

  If only this application would have been updated, would have been the best firewall ever. Eh.... if only...

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• Problematic

  jpmdnsMarch 8, 2015

  Pros

  See remarks in "cons"

  Cons

  Initial install was fine but update would not disengage after use. Within hours, I started to experience a blue screen problem .... after uninstall, the blue screen issue did not reappear.

  Summary

  Unsure for the reason why my Windows 7 had a problem with his software. Alternative firewalls I have used produced no ill effects.

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• Nag, Nag, Nag

  BearPuppyFebruary 27, 2015

  Pros

  It does work. In the few years that I used it I never had malware breach my system. And the 60 seconds it gives you to make a decision to block or allow, is usually long enough to make your choice.

  Cons

  The biggest problem I ran into was the appearance of nag screens demanding I answer to allow or block the same application time after time. Despite white listing the location, it never followed that direction, but kept asking on every reboot to allow or block that site (Dropbox).

  Summary

  I finally uninstalled the application - too many nags.

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• Easy install and it's performing very well...

  yankee07mvpFebruary 27, 2015

  Pros

  New, first time installation of this free firewall for me. It was a simple, easy installation on my XP Pro SP3 computer, (after uninstalling Comodo Free Firewall which I was very unhappy with). Computer performance sped up immediately and noticeably. My entire computer ran better..!

  Cons

  None that I've run across so far. The only reason I have only given it four stars - to this point - is exactly that. I've only had it installed for slightly less than one week now.

  Summary

  Other than a few, (less than a half dozen in less than a week), pop-ups asking to allow permission/access to Internet, (for programs I was running), this firewall has given me NO problems what-so-ever. My previous firewall - Comodo Free Firewall - was putting sales pop-ups on my screen every 1-2 minutes..!!! (That's probably far more pop-ups than it was preventing..!!!) That made the latter firewall a complete nuance, (even if it was "working" at what it was supposed to be doing which was to protect me/my computer). I think people are going to be switching to this in droves in short order...

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• Why does CNET have an old version listed?

  BDWongFebruary 18, 2015

  Pros

  Unknown as I just installed it.

  Cons

  Just installed this program & IMMEDIATELY it states an update is available. The version listed here on CNET is 7.0.30.2 from 12/19/2013 & the privacyware website states the latest version is 7.0.30.3 from 12/19/2013. What's up with that?

  Summary

  If you are going to offer/list software please list the most recent version not one that's OVER 4 MONTHS OLD!<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Feb 18, 2015<p/>Revision: The listed version is actually from 10/5/2013 not 12/19/2013 making it over 16 months old.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Feb 20, 2015<p/>THIS SOFTWARE IS A TRAIN WRECK!!! CONSTANT POPUPS. FINAL STRAW WAS THAT IT REMOVED SOUND (VOLUME) ICON. UNINSTALLED THIS DISASTER &#38; SOUND ICON RETURNED.

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• Believe the hype. Installs in 10 MB, but it's for real

  AtlBoNovember 29, 2014

  Pros

  -Monitors processes and programs (and scripts) for 21 behaviors that can be blocked -Monitors processes and programs for attempts to connect to the internet, so that they can be blocked -Installs in only 10 MB -Convenient log -Convenient port tracking feature -Rates highly in Matousec tests -Passes Gibson leak test -Light on system resources even with HIPS

  Cons

  -I would like to see a way added to the program for blocking a particular behavior across all processes and programs. Just would be nice, although not really necessary -I would like to see something in PF for controlling how programs and processes are allowed to interact with services (i.e. turn on/off or change startup of service from Automatic to Manual or Disabled)

  Summary

  I've been using PF for a year now after using Comodo Personal Firewall. At only 10 MB, PF is very similar in performance. It doesn't use resources like Comodo, though. If you try this firewall, I promise it's for real. Give it a chance to prove to you that it can do the job. Really a good program

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