To block external intrusions on your computer, the program to use is the firewall .
A firewall is software that analyzes incoming and outgoing network traffic and, according to some rules, filters it by preventing or allowing the exchange of data with the outside world.
the Firewall program adds an additional layer of security over the Antivirus program, protects the resources of a computer or a private network, not only from intrusion attempts by other external people but also by preventing unauthorized programs from accessing the Internet, to prevent any viruses or unsafe programs from spreading private information externally.
Although Windows 10 and Windows 7 include an integrated firewall that blocks incoming traffic and that intervenes when a program asks to download data (asking the user for permission).
When Windows did not have a firewall and anyone with some computer knowledge, even without being a hacker, could take advantage of people's ingenuity and access their PCs, looking at files and even modifying them if they wanted.
Now, one of the main functions of Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 is the firewall, which remains hidden, never disturbs, does not require configuration by the user and which, for most people, is absolutely excellent and sufficient to filter. internet traffic generated by each program and to prevent access to the computer from outside the network .
As seen in another article, then, even if the firewall integrated in Windows 10 is fine and does not require any manual intervention other than giving the OK when a new program tries to access the internet, it is possible to manage and control the firewall of Windows with some external tools that simplify its use.
READ ALSO: Protect your home Wifi network from external intrusions
If, however, you need more control than that (which I repeat is more than enough for most people) of the integrated firewall, you need to install an external firewall choosing it from some free programs .
Note that the installation of an external firewall program can be superfluous if you have purchased a security suite that includes anti-malware antivirus and also, in fact, the firewall.
The most famous of these paid security suites are those of Kaspersky, Eset, Norton, BitDefender, F-Secure, Avira, Mcafee, AVG, GData, Avast.
In this updated article we see therefore, the best free Firewall for Windows PC to protect the network and the internet.
1) Comodo Free Firewall (also included in the Comodo Antivirus suite) has been for several years, and even today, considered the best of the firewalls that can be downloaded and installed for free on any PC .
Comodo is a company that deals with internet security which, in addition to consulting and business products, also provides many free tools.
Comodo personal firewall can be installed individually, without necessarily having to take the antivirus.
Advanced features help protect your computer with the ability to lock certain files and registry keys.
Comodo has also received praise for its ease of use and lightness on system resources, a very important thing and a key factor for any program that must always remain in the background.
Comodo Firewall offers virtual Internet browsing, custom DNS servers, a game mode, functionality to easily block any process or program from leaving / accessing the network.
Comodo Firewall has an evaluation scan option to analyze all running processes to know how reliable they are.
2) ZoneAlarm Free Firewall has been a great tool for replacing the default Windows firewall for many years.
ZoneAlarm is famous because it was one of the first free firewalls available for Windows computers and is also in Italian.
While the basic functions remain the same as ever, ZoneAlarm has been significantly refined over the years
The basic version of ZoneAlarm Free Firewall can be separated from the antivirus and can be configured to work automatically or manually to check each setting.
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall can be used to adjust security settings on public and private networks, going from no protection to medium or high to limit sharing of files and printers in certain networks.
3) TinyWall is the lightest firewall to protect the internet, based on the internal firewall of Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10.
This application scanner can scan your computer in order to add and authorize trusted programs in a safe list.
You can run TinyWall in Autolearn mode to teach it which programs to grant network access so you can open them without being blocked.
It also shows all active processes that have an Internet connection and all open ports.
TinyWall also blocks known locations that host viruses and worms, protects the changes that a malware can make to the Windows Firewall and can be password protected.
Tinywall is a very small program, not at all intrusive, which I personally recommend to all those who want to control the internal Windows firewall without having additional software that slows down the PC.
4) GlassWire, which protects the internet connection, is a very simple to use basic firewall that shows exactly which programs are sending and receiving data on the network, warning if it finds anything unusual.
A notification is sent when a new application or service requires Internet access to allow or block it.
Even GlassWire is actually just an interface built over the Windows firewall, so it doesn't weigh down the PC and remains much less intrusive than a full firewall.
5) Outpost Firewall Free is a powerful free firewall, a little difficult to use and, it is worth saying, no longer in development and will no longer be updated.
However, this Firewall has several advanced settings that may make it preferable to others, including the one to automatically create rules to recognize known applications, add customized programs to the list of blocks and permissions and define specific IP addresses and ports to allow or deny traffic Internet.
The Anti-Leak Control feature prevents malware from providing data through otherwise trusted applications, which is not included in all firewall programs but is certainly useful.
6) AVS Firewall is an easy-to-use program that allows you to control and prevent unwanted Internet connections.
It protects your computer from registry changes, pop-up windows, banners and advertisements.
You can allow and deny specific IP addresses, ports and programs by adding them manually or by browsing through the list of running processes to choose them from there.
AVS Firewall also includes a Parental Control to allow only access to specific websites.
Also this program has not been updated for some time.
7) PeerBlock is different from other firewall programs because, instead of blocking programs, it blocks entire lists of IP addresses in both outgoing and incoming internet connections.
This means that none of the listed addresses will have access to the computer.
For example, you can upload a list of predefined locations into PeerBlock to block IP addresses labeled as P2P, ads or spyware.
It can also block internet traffic to entire countries and organizations.
8) NetDefender is an old small program that can still be used today because it is very simple and capable of blocking internet traffic from IP addresses, ports and network protocols.
NetDefender also has a port scanner which can see which ports are open on your system.
9) R-Firewall is one of the most advanced Windows Firewalls, not very easy to use because the interface is full of settings and options, but with some advanced elements such as ad blocking, javascript blocking, web tracker, keyword blocking, mail filters, etc.
R-Firewall is no longer in development and will no longer be updated.
READ ALSO: Find out who enters the PC and if we are spied on the computer
A firewall is software that analyzes incoming and outgoing network traffic and, according to some rules, filters it by preventing or allowing the exchange of data with the outside world.
the Firewall program adds an additional layer of security over the Antivirus program, protects the resources of a computer or a private network, not only from intrusion attempts by other external people but also by preventing unauthorized programs from accessing the Internet, to prevent any viruses or unsafe programs from spreading private information externally.
Although Windows 10 and Windows 7 include an integrated firewall that blocks incoming traffic and that intervenes when a program asks to download data (asking the user for permission).
When Windows did not have a firewall and anyone with some computer knowledge, even without being a hacker, could take advantage of people's ingenuity and access their PCs, looking at files and even modifying them if they wanted.
Now, one of the main functions of Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 is the firewall, which remains hidden, never disturbs, does not require configuration by the user and which, for most people, is absolutely excellent and sufficient to filter. internet traffic generated by each program and to prevent access to the computer from outside the network .
As seen in another article, then, even if the firewall integrated in Windows 10 is fine and does not require any manual intervention other than giving the OK when a new program tries to access the internet, it is possible to manage and control the firewall of Windows with some external tools that simplify its use.
READ ALSO: Protect your home Wifi network from external intrusions
If, however, you need more control than that (which I repeat is more than enough for most people) of the integrated firewall, you need to install an external firewall choosing it from some free programs .
Note that the installation of an external firewall program can be superfluous if you have purchased a security suite that includes anti-malware antivirus and also, in fact, the firewall.
The most famous of these paid security suites are those of Kaspersky, Eset, Norton, BitDefender, F-Secure, Avira, Mcafee, AVG, GData, Avast.
In this updated article we see therefore, the best free Firewall for Windows PC to protect the network and the internet.
1) Comodo Free Firewall (also included in the Comodo Antivirus suite) has been for several years, and even today, considered the best of the firewalls that can be downloaded and installed for free on any PC .
Comodo is a company that deals with internet security which, in addition to consulting and business products, also provides many free tools.
Comodo personal firewall can be installed individually, without necessarily having to take the antivirus.
Advanced features help protect your computer with the ability to lock certain files and registry keys.
Comodo has also received praise for its ease of use and lightness on system resources, a very important thing and a key factor for any program that must always remain in the background.
Comodo Firewall offers virtual Internet browsing, custom DNS servers, a game mode, functionality to easily block any process or program from leaving / accessing the network.
Comodo Firewall has an evaluation scan option to analyze all running processes to know how reliable they are.
2) ZoneAlarm Free Firewall has been a great tool for replacing the default Windows firewall for many years.
ZoneAlarm is famous because it was one of the first free firewalls available for Windows computers and is also in Italian.
While the basic functions remain the same as ever, ZoneAlarm has been significantly refined over the years
The basic version of ZoneAlarm Free Firewall can be separated from the antivirus and can be configured to work automatically or manually to check each setting.
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall can be used to adjust security settings on public and private networks, going from no protection to medium or high to limit sharing of files and printers in certain networks.
3) TinyWall is the lightest firewall to protect the internet, based on the internal firewall of Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10.
This application scanner can scan your computer in order to add and authorize trusted programs in a safe list.
You can run TinyWall in Autolearn mode to teach it which programs to grant network access so you can open them without being blocked.
It also shows all active processes that have an Internet connection and all open ports.
TinyWall also blocks known locations that host viruses and worms, protects the changes that a malware can make to the Windows Firewall and can be password protected.
Tinywall is a very small program, not at all intrusive, which I personally recommend to all those who want to control the internal Windows firewall without having additional software that slows down the PC.
4) GlassWire, which protects the internet connection, is a very simple to use basic firewall that shows exactly which programs are sending and receiving data on the network, warning if it finds anything unusual.
A notification is sent when a new application or service requires Internet access to allow or block it.
Even GlassWire is actually just an interface built over the Windows firewall, so it doesn't weigh down the PC and remains much less intrusive than a full firewall.
5) Outpost Firewall Free is a powerful free firewall, a little difficult to use and, it is worth saying, no longer in development and will no longer be updated.
However, this Firewall has several advanced settings that may make it preferable to others, including the one to automatically create rules to recognize known applications, add customized programs to the list of blocks and permissions and define specific IP addresses and ports to allow or deny traffic Internet.
The Anti-Leak Control feature prevents malware from providing data through otherwise trusted applications, which is not included in all firewall programs but is certainly useful.
6) AVS Firewall is an easy-to-use program that allows you to control and prevent unwanted Internet connections.
It protects your computer from registry changes, pop-up windows, banners and advertisements.
You can allow and deny specific IP addresses, ports and programs by adding them manually or by browsing through the list of running processes to choose them from there.
AVS Firewall also includes a Parental Control to allow only access to specific websites.
Also this program has not been updated for some time.
7) PeerBlock is different from other firewall programs because, instead of blocking programs, it blocks entire lists of IP addresses in both outgoing and incoming internet connections.
This means that none of the listed addresses will have access to the computer.
For example, you can upload a list of predefined locations into PeerBlock to block IP addresses labeled as P2P, ads or spyware.
It can also block internet traffic to entire countries and organizations.
8) NetDefender is an old small program that can still be used today because it is very simple and capable of blocking internet traffic from IP addresses, ports and network protocols.
NetDefender also has a port scanner which can see which ports are open on your system.
9) R-Firewall is one of the most advanced Windows Firewalls, not very easy to use because the interface is full of settings and options, but with some advanced elements such as ad blocking, javascript blocking, web tracker, keyword blocking, mail filters, etc.
R-Firewall is no longer in development and will no longer be updated.
READ ALSO: Find out who enters the PC and if we are spied on the computer
