Editors' Review
+Privatefirewall 7.0 is easy enough for beginners to master yet powerful and flexible enough for advanced users. Privatefirewall's features include a Process Monitor, Port Tracking, and Applications Monitor. You can customize many settings, yet Privatefirewall also teaches itself to protect you from hackers and other threats just by studying your habits.
Pros
Training: Privatefirewall's Training mode analyzes your computer and online habits to protect you without annoying you. It's easy to allow or block apps and sites manually or when they appear in pop-up alerts.
Help and more: Privatefirewall's Help file and online resources explain every aspect of using the software as well as topics, such as system security and online privacy and protection.
Settings: The Internet and Network Security options include custom security levels and other settings that can maximize protection with minimum impact on performance.
Anomaly Detection: Privatefirewall's Email and System Anomaly Detection features analyze your normal usage patterns and issue alerts when deviations are detected. You can tell Privatefirewall to block all outgoing email when anomalies are detected.
Cons
Busy and wordy interface: Privatefirewall's Main Menu is a bit busy and text-heavy.
Updates: Privatefirewall couldn't save a software update to the default destination without Admin privileges, and we had to choose another folder. A minor inconvenience; but inexperienced users might feel uncomfortable or confused.
Bottom Line
Privatefirewall 7.0 is a keeper. It's not the flashiest firewall you can download, but it's one of the best we've tried.
Publisher's Description
+Privatefirewall is a Personal Firewall and Host Intrusion Prevention application designed to help individuals and businesses protect Windows desktops and servers from malware and unauthorized use. Privatefirewall addresses the operating system and application level vulnerabilities and intrusion techniques that hackers exploit to gain access and cause damage to private systems and data. Privatefirewall provides an excellent layer of additional protection to the Windows operating system. Beyond unparalleled personal firewall protection, Privatefirewall leverages proprietary HIPS technologies that model and monitor system and application behavior to identify and block activity characteristic of known malware, hacking, phishing, and other threat types. Privatefirewall ranks among the best performing desktop defense applications tested against the industry's most rigorous leak, general bypass, spying and termination tests and is among a short list of free personal firewall and host intrusion prevention software (HIPS) products that fully supports Microsoft's Windows 8/8.1 Operating System.
What's new in this version:
Version 7.0.30.2 - Added support for Windows 8.1 (32/64 bit).
- Fixed Windows 8 Live Tiles issue.
- Added version query check confirmation.
- Updated drivers reviewed and tested by Microsoft Winqual.
