Windows 7 & Vista Firewall Control 2.4

They offer a free version, a portable version and a pro version that offers more indepth application control. It works with both 32bit and 64bit versions of Vista and Windows 7. The new version offers advice on what zone to put an application in when it tries to access the internet making it's use much simpler.

I'm using the Free version on my Vista system and it works well and adequate for my needs.

Yup, it's great. I used the freebie for a long time then they had a special offer that if you wrote a review and sent them the link to it in an email so they could verify it, they'd give you a pro license for free so I sang it's praises on Download.com.

I decided to try this seeing as for unknown reasons Comodo decided to start randomly allowing everything outbound access (uninstall/comodo cleanup tool/reinstall fixed it for a day or so then the issue returned).

It's been great other than one thing: It only looks at the name of an application (and probably it's location, I haven't tested that yet), not what the application actually is. I tested by dropping the FLV player .exe (a media player for flv files) onto my desktop, as it requires an internet connection when it checks for updates. I allowed it access, then deleted it and renamed the GRC leaktest app with the same .exe name. Lo and behold, the leaktest got right through. Zonealarm can tell the difference between the two on our XP machine, but Vista Firewall control isn't that sophticated.

For a simple outbound firewall enancement tool then Vista Firewall Control is adequate but can be fooled by covert changes of trusted applications.

Have a look at LeakTest:
https://www.grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm <== its a bit dated but the concepts are stil valid

How to Use Version 1.x
https://www.grc.com/lt/howtouse.htm

I go back to the video with Bruce Harrison who is a developer at Malwarebytes - the company who created Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
http://www.revver.com/video/1118865/malwar...loper-interview <== software firewall discussion starts about 8 minutes into the excellent video

Vista Firewall Control is interesting and very light weight and if you need suspenders as well as a belt for your trowsers then feel free to do so.

Yes, I know about the leaktest. The good thing is though, if the exe that is allowed is mimicked in name only and not location, Vista Firewall Control will still block it. Of course, I'm behind a hardware firewall as well which makes the biggest difference. For me, VFC serves it's purpose well. By the way :

Windows 7 & Vista Firewall Control 2.5

I'm not behind a hardware firewall but I think VFC will do it's job. Just interesting how it only uses the name and location.

@YoKenny1: That was the leaktest I was using for this test.

@exile360: Is there a way to find the version number from within the program? I checked the actual .exe in program files and it's 2.5.somthing, but the actual program doesn't seem to have an 'about' section.

You can find out the version by right-clicking the icon and selecting "about" . There is no help or about in the interface itself, only through the tray icon.

@Insomniac
How do you connect to the Internet?
What is the manufacturer and model no. of the modem you use?

I'm using a Speedtouch 530 modem going through a Linksys SD205 5 port 10/100 switch (lets me have both computers going through the same modem). So no hardware firewall, using Vista firewall control on the Vista computer and ZoneAlarm Free on the XP machine. Why?

I connect with a 2Wire HomePortal® intelligent gateway DSL modem provided by my ISP that has a built in firewall:
http://www.2wire.com/index.php?p=399

So why I ask is to see the specifications of the equipment you are using and it looks like they have no built in firewall

Before I switched to this ISP I made sure I had a router with a bult in firewall that was a SMC Barricade SMC7004VBR that now I am trying to sell for whatever I can get for it:
http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewPro...USA&pid=924

That's what I said... no hardware firewall. Is it really that bad though? I'm running a software firewall and it stealths my PC according to sites like ShieldsUp.

You should be OK, the best use I can see for a more powerful software firewall would be blocking outbound trojans that already got in but went undetected by your AV etc, not for keeping others out. The simplist firewall should be able to do that simply by "stealthing" your ports so to speak, which the Windows Firewall does. The only reason I even use Vista Firewall Control is to control other apps on my PC because some of them like to get chatty when I don't necessarily want them to, especially since I don't do any sort of network sharing. It also helps when installing a new piece of software just to check and see if it "phones home".

I just had another look at the page for my modem (SpeedTouch 530) and apparently it DOES have a firewall. I never even knew, I just assumed it didn't because it's so old (I think we may have gotten it in 2003, when we first moved to broadband. I can't find the box so I can't check)

Most do have one, but it's still largely unnecessary, although NAT is a nice feature to have for security.

It would appear that this has now been updated to Windows 7 Firewall Control 3.0

Might have to update later. Does the old version need to be uninstalled first? I'd rather not lose my program list, for simplicity's sake.

Yeah, I believe you have to uninstall the old version, but I think you can keep the list of allowed programs as they should be saved in the registry and I don't think it removes them, although I could be wrong.

Any ideas on the changes (if any, aside from the name)? I couldn't find any details and they want users of 2.x (Pro) to pay for the update and I'm not sure it would be worth it.

I haven't installed it so I don't know. I might just stick with the version I have for now... I haven't noticed any bugs and it's not like it's updating any of the firewall itself, as it just controls it.

Their site could really use some better documentation and explinations of stuff as simple as updating to a new version and basic changelogs between versions.

I agree. They're a very small company with a small staff and I suspect that's why there's so little info. With 2.x they pointed out the differences, but with 3.x everything listed is identical except the name and the new "Server Only" version. No new features are listed though.

I gave up on Vista Firewall Control and I even purchased the application and you can see why I did in their forum unless they removed my posts as they do not like criticism.

I have a good firewall in my DSL modem that protects my systems.

Yeah, the inability to sync with your modem correct?

True, but it really doesn't take any time at all to write a simplified changelog, similar to what the MBAM devs post when each new version is out.

EDIT: I'm responding to exile's previous post btw, didn't see the last two for some reason.