Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
Windows ships with an effective suite of security tools, including a firewall, but third-party firewalls are popular with many users. Many are free, and the most popular ones do a good job keeping millions of users safe from cyber attacks, hackers, and other intrusive threats. Privacyware's Privatefirewall has all the features and most of the extras that most personal firewall and host intrusion prevention freeware (HIPS) offer, like its Process Monitor and Port Tracking tools. Its chief advantages are its intelligent tracking feature and its extensive explanations. Privatefirewall monitors your online activity privately to learn your usage patterns. It detects and blocks anomalous usage patterns that could signal an intrusive attack on your system. As with other firewalls, you can easily allow any activity. But Privatefirewall's system is designed to make allowing regular programs less frequent (and annoying) while still protecting you from threats.
Privatefirewall's user interface is easy to understand, and so are its various features and settings, thanks to a right-hand panel that displayed a detailed explanation of everything we selected. The Main Menu opens with two main functions, Internet Security and Network Security. Sliders let us choose High, Low, or Custom security levels much like in Windows. We could add trusted and blocked sites, too. Privatefirewall enables separate Profiles for Home, Office, and Remote connections, a handy option for laptops. We could import and export the program's settings, including Process, Email, and System Anomaly Detection settings. This interesting tool displays Training Statistics that show which programs it analyzed and when; we could set its Sensitivity level and also limit the training period. The program's Help file offers more detail than the user interface in explaining the anomaly detection feature as well as the Port Tracking tool and other features.
The true test of a firewall is in how well it protects your system. We tried a variety of probes and simulated attacks, and Privatefirewall kept them at bay. Since the firewall that fails exits the marketplace quickly, we expected nothing less from Privatefirewall. Its intelligent monitoring and its detailed documentation set it apart from the other free firewalls, though.
Publisher's Description
From Privacyware:
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 7 Operating System.
What's new in this version: Version 7.0.28.1 has updated drivers reviewed and tested by Microsoft Winqual.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 115 votes
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Current version:
3.2 starsout of 20 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Absolute Bilge, Don't Do it"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
None but trouble
Cons
Nothing but Cons
Summary
Stick with Windows firewall as this is nothing but trouble.
Take the good review below with a pinch of salt as they have only become members in the last month and therefore have little or no credibility. I previously have given this crap - very good reviews but not anymore. I recommend windows firewall with Avast free. (look at my history) -
"Recommended for everyone who needs a smooth firewall"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
- Totally and easily customizable
- Easy to use
- Free
- Very small size
- Does not suck up your computers memory
- Does not conflict with Windows resources
- Training feature for separate applications / behavior tracingCons
- Application and Process Monitor sections look like same but actually they are not. Little confusing until you figure things out.
- Looks: needs a better cosmetic designSummary
This little firewall works excellent while using approximately only 0.05-0.07 of your CPU. It is really impressive. You have a total control over all the software installed on your machine, both in terms of internet access and processes. So you can fully control your programs. In my humble opinion, it is particularly useful if you do not like sub-programs which you don't want them to start (for example: You can let Photoshop run and/or connect to internet but you can separately block its extensions like Bridge or Bonjour, etc.). I was looking for a firewall like this for a long time. I am happy that I've found it.
User interface takes little time to get used to it. Application and Process Monitor windows are lookalike and it seems that they are doing the same thing although they are not; one is responsible for internet accesses while other controls the process permissions. For a week or two, I advice you to use Process Monitor section in Medium level. Then you can start to customize your software permissions.
There is also a Training options for programs which I found it pretty good. Some call it "behaviour blocking". You can enable training clicking on warning windows for different programs.
If you ever tried ZoneAlarm, McAfee or Norton you already know that those programs suck up most of the resources on your computer and they simply slow you down. And most annoying of all, they they have annoying ads. In this context Privatefirewall is effective and lightweight like the old Sygate, but it is free and not dead.
Overall it is 5/5 from me. -
"Very good for a third party firewall"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
Better than I expected and seemingly lighter on resources than zone alarm.
Cons
Doesn`t always alert when an IP is blocked, I kinda like knowing that that is what happened.
Summary
Great firewall!
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"Excellent Firewall For Experts & Beginners Alike"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
Keeps an eye out for any behaviour on your machine that tries to do malicious stuff. Passes all leak tests. Can add trusted programs with one click. Monitors downloads for malware.
Cons
GUI in need of modernization, it could be a bit confusing - helpful hint: leave the settings just like they come out-of-the-box.
Summary
A must have if you are using an AV that doesn't have some type of zero-day protection, ie: HIPS, behaviour blocker.
Very small download 4MBs, runs 8 MBs in memory.
Updated on Nov 9, 2012 -
"Disappointing"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
None I can think of.
Cons
The only thing this will do is block your access to the web in total. It will not block an individual application from accessing the web at all. Set it up to block FireFox from accessing the web and FireFox still got to the web just fine.
Summary
Uninstalling right after I post this.
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"It works as promised."
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
Its one of a few that works well with Avast Anti-virus 7.0. I have used Avast for years and wanted to find a firewall that worked well with it; to date, no conflicts.
Cons
No problems.
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"May not be compatible with WinXP"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
Quite easy-to-use interface.
Cons
This program kept blocking my WinXP SP3 laptop's WiFi and Ethernet connection every other bootup.
Recommends blocking most new programs which is too easily confirmed. -
"Does exactly what a firewall should."
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
Privatefirewall 7.0 does the following:
1. Makes the computer invisible to other computers on the internet.
2. Allows you to modify advanced packet rules.
3. Comes with a "Reset to Defaults" button in case you mess something up.
4. System Anomaly Detection (which actually works...!)
5. IP Filtering. Allows whitelisting/blacklisting.
6. Very tough. It won't allow itself to be deactivated by malicious software or attackers.
7. Doesn't impact normal computer usage too much.Cons
Privatefirewall 7.0 has the following problems:
1. It extends the boot-time of the host computer by a noticeable amount. (I counted an extra 10 seconds per boot)
2. Has a clunky interface. It could honestly use an overhaul, and some things could probably be simplified a little better.Summary
Privatefirewall is a good firewall. If you install it on your computer and the installation succeeds properly.. you will be protected.
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"Simple and effective"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
Easy to use. No problems with installation on Win 7.
Excellent, diligent tech-support that you can count on!Cons
no cons so far after using it for more than half a year
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"Not Recommended"
Version: Privatefirewall 7.0.28.1
Pros
Simple enough settings for most non-techie individuals to use and figure out.
Cons
When i tried to open a document via OpenOffice, causes my computer to crash to the blue screen of death. Conflicts with core Windows services (based on my minimalist set up and configuration.)
Summary
As a general rule in software design, one should never try to bend an OS to the will of your program, it must be the other way around. Major conflicts that cause continuous problems like the BSOD that reliably occurs on my system is inexcusable. Do yourself a favor and avoid this software.
-12 year veteran software engineer
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