Do you want to have a free and effective firewall to protect your computer? But you don't necessarily know how to choose? So, let us present to you our top 6 of the best firewalls of 2021 for your Windows 10!
First of all, what is a firewall?
The firewall or firewall is a software or hardware device used to filter network connections. But for what purpose? The purpose of the firewall is to protect you and your personal and sensitive data from any malicious external connection. Thus, firewall software blocks any incoming connection that exploits your data through security vulnerabilities.
It is therefore essential today to have a firewall on your computer. But be careful, as with antiviruses, it is better to have just one. Indeed, several firewalls at the same time would slow down your computer and even risk crashing your Windows !
Should you prefer a paid or free firewall?
We would tend to say right away: paying! Thinking, when it pays off, certainly the efficiency is more important.
However, you should not be fooled by appearances, whether a firewall is paid or free, in both cases, it automatically blocks all incoming or outgoing connections from your computer. So, free or paid, the firewall is equally effective. The differences will rather appear on other points: the interface, ergonomics and other functionalities. But if you base it on efficiency, a paid firewall is sufficient.
Here is our Top 6 free and effective Firewalls!
1) The Comodo Firewall
For the year 2021, if there is one firewall that is at the top of downloads, it is the Comodo Firewall. In fact, it is considered by Internet users and specialized sites to be the free firewall that offers the most levels of protection. Easy to access, its easy-to-use interface allows both novices and experts to use it. This will allow you to change the settings without any hassle.
In addition, the Comodo Firewall consumes little memory, its HIPS called “Defense +” is responsive and sometimes even more powerful than paid firewalls. In order to avoid any infection from external software, the Comodo has a Sandbox system which allows you to launch applications or even create a desktop outside the system.
Finally, the Comodo also includes an antivirus part. However, it is strongly recommended not to install it if you already have one, in order to avoid burdening the system and creating instabilities.
2) Glass Wire
In second place comes Glass Wire. The latter is a firewall that allows you to monitor all incoming or outgoing packages from the computer or a network, but also applications receiving or sending data. Thus, Wire focuses on total surveillance and maximum control, thus ensuring a high level of security. Whatever the application, Wire will ask for your authorization. Certainly, monitoring may seem excessive, but on the contrary it allows you to better secure your systems against cyberattacks.
In addition, GlassWire will allow you to analyze the different files installed on your computer to find out if these files are reducing the speed of your computer or if they are using data that they should not. Finally, GlassWire ensures that all your information stays on your computer.
3) TinyWall 2.1
TinyWall is a lightweight firewall that complements the windows firewall (FirewallWindws), thus offering dual protection, rare in the world of firewalls. Especially since it makes the Windows firewall easier to use.
Thus, it does not need to be configured, however if you want modifications, the simplicity of its use will allow you to add exceptions to the TinyWall rules. In fact, this firewall offers you a list where all the programs on your computer are located, allowing you to modify the desired programs.
Finally, TinyWall blocks all malicious programs, as dangerous as Trojans and viruses, but also unbearable pop-ups and the entire program is less than 1 megabyte.
4) PeerBlock
The PeerBlock software is both a firewall, but also a kind of VPN. Indeed, in addition to protecting your computer from any malicious intrusion, this software also blocks unwanted IP addresses coming, for example, from spyware.
It allows you to protect yourself from dangerous servers, but also from servers monitoring your activities on P2P networks (like Hadopi). How does he do it? Peer Block has a list of IP addresses to block. This list is often updated by the PeerBlock community. Indeed, this system has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Surveillance networks often change IP addresses.
PeerBlock therefore resembles a kind of VPN but without the bad sides, since data transfers remain fast.
5) Zone Alarm
ZoneAlarm is a firewall accessible to any user regardless of their level. Plus, it offers some really cool features. It provides two-way protection, on one side it is anti-phishing and on the other side it allows you to put your system port in stealth mode. Therefore, any person or software wanting to access your data is automatically blocked.
In addition, Zone Alarm regularly updates its software and also offers you 5 GB of online backup space. This backup space is protected by IDrive.
6) Windows firewall control
Windows firewall control is a firewall complementary to that of Windows . On this firewall, the level of filtering is much more aggressive, in fact, each new connection is indicated by a notification in order to warn the user. Thus, each notification corresponds to a connection blocked or authorized by the firewall.
With this firewall, you can manage the blocking level by adding or removing firewall rules. Finally, you should know that Windows firewall control was bought by Malwarebytes and that you can therefore have in addition to the original functionalities of Windows control, those of Malwarebytes.
