Overview:

Firewalls: When you connect your computer to the internet, it is a matter of time for intrusions to be attempted against you. Depending on your operating system and configuration, such attacks may fail or succeed. The only way to be sure about your security is to use a properly configured firewall.
Firewalls vary in effectiveness and features. Some points which may affect your decision are ease of use and configuration, demands in user input and processing power, or even levels of security provided. Extra features include controlling which programs use internet access or applying security rules to ethernet connections.

Agnitum Outpost Firewall

• Version Number: 1.0.1817
• Revision Date: 12 September 2002
• Licence: Freeware
• Manufacturer: Agnitum
• Home Page: http://www.agnitum.com
• Description: A personal firewall with a wealth of features, including application based rules, email and web content filtering, ad blocker, ICMP settings, adjustable reaction to attacks, and an open architecture which allows 3rd party plug-ins. (Note: A commercial version is also available with more features including clever rule creation, multiple profiles and network support)
  

BlackICE

• Version Number: 3.5
• Revision Date: 24 November 2002
• Licence: Shareware
• Manufacturer: Network ICE
• Home Page: http://www.networkice.com
• Description: Protects from incoming attacks, requiring minimal user input and featuring a simple and intuitive user interface. Supports blocking specific IP addresses, or allowing all traffic from a specific IP address, and shows history graphs of .attack events.
  

ConSeal PC Firewall

• Version Number: 2.09
• Revision Date: 15 March 2001
• Licence: Shareware
• Manufacturer: McAfee
• Home Page: http://www.mcafee.com
• Description: Highly configurable firewall with small screen and memory footprint which allows the user to tweak every detail. Supports separate rules for local networks and includes a learning mode to assist the user in customizing the firewall while using it. To make customizing easier, you can import and export rule sets and exchange them with other users.
  

Kerio Personal Firewall

• Version Number: 3.0.0.0 Beta 5
• Revision Date: 15 December 2002
• Licence: Freeware
• Manufacturer: Kerio
• Home Page: http://www.kerio.com
• Description: With minimal demands in memory and processing power, Kerio Personal Firewall is highly customizable, allowing the user to set separate rules for local network machines and allow internet access to user defined applications based on digital signatures. It provides a learning mode, kernel authorization, and a large number of options and detailed settings for each additional rule for maximum versatility. In addition, you can remotely control the firewall and view detailed graphs of monitored network communication.
  

Look'n'Stop

• Version Number: 2.0.3
• Revision Date: 28 May 2002
• Licence: Shareware
• Manufacturer: Soft4Ever
• Home Page: http://www.soft4ever.com
• Description: Personal firewall with extensive configurability, application based filtering and anti-flood options.
  

McAfee Personal Firewall

• Version Number: 4.0
• Revision Date: 15 December 2002
• Licence: Shareware
• Manufacturer: McAfee
• Home Page: http://www.mcafee.com
• Description: With a small memory and screen footprint, it provides a high level of configuration with custom rules which are categorized for easy access. Additionally, it can block internet access to user defined applications.
  

PGP

• Version Number: 8
• Revision Date: 15 December 2002
• Licence: Shareware
• Manufacturer: PGP Corporation
• Home Page: http://www.pgp.com
• Description: Based on famous PGP encryption software, PGP Desktop Security combines support for totally safe communications on VPN, importable/exportable rule set and application filtering. Offers PGP encryption with support for private mail and ICQ communications and file wiping function. Other features include smart card support and hard disk encryption. (Note: a free version is also available for personal use)
  

SmoothWall

• Version Number: 0.9.9
• Revision Date: 09 October 2001
• Licence: Open Source
• Manufacturer: Richard Morrel and Laurence Manning
• Home Page: http://www.smoothwall.org
• Description: A Linux based custom operating system which allows you to turn a redundant PC into a firewall router. Allows remote administration via a web browser so that the PC doesn't even need a monitor or keyboard. Allows building of IPSec compliant VPNs and provides full logging and graphing capabilities, embedded Java SSH client, DHCP server and proxy server with caching facility. Supports all kinds of internet connections, including DSL, and intrusion detection. (Note: You can buy an official Smoothwall CD to support Smoothwall development)
  

Sygate Personal Firewall

• Version Number: 5.8.1150
• Revision Date: 11 October 2002
• Licence: Freeware
• Manufacturer: Sygate Technologies
• Home Page: http://www.sygate.com
• Description: A simple firewall with emphasis on ease of use, with application based rules offering basic security functionality and easy to understand visual indications, email notifications and logging capabilities.
  

Tiny Personal Firewall

• Version Number: 4.0
• Revision Date: 24 November 2002
• Licence: Shareware
• Manufacturer: TINY Software
• Home Page: http://www.tinysoftware.com
• Description: Offering strict security controls, Tiny Personal Firewall combines classic firewall functions with content filter, sandbox, antiviral protection, extensive rule sets, system integration and ability to protect from dangerous ActiveX controls and VBasic scripts.
  

ZoneAlarm Pro

• Version Number: 3.7
• Revision Date: 03 February 2003
• Licence: Shareware
• Manufacturer: Zone Labs
• Home Page: http://www.zonelabs.com
• Description: Easy to configure personal firewall which supports local networks and ICS. It can block internet access to user defined applications to protect you from trojans and spyware and offers a good level of creating custom protection schemes. Includes MailSafe to protect your mailbox from malicious mails and attachements and has added web filtering functions. (Note: a free version with less features is also available)