http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21928994-Matousec-has-posted-new-results | Matousec has posted more worthless results!

http://smokeys.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/matousecs-firewall-challenge-wrinkle-conflict-of-interests/

http://smokeys.wordpress.com/2008/11/30/matousec-and-his-firewall-challenges-hall-of-shame-2008-awardee/

After posting - I thought I would "remove my comment for a few minutes" (it's back now) while I checked some program versions, and double check how recent the testing results are (about 2-Nov-2007). My point confirmed as a few firewalls have been updated since the tests - it's a fairly rapidly moving target.

The chart results and feedback provides a useful summary. "Bookmarked".

BuBBy, what happened to your comment? I answered it, and before I posted the answer, it was gone... Twilight Zone...

I was running version 3.0.13.268 of Comodo Firewall, and it was certainly very good!

I would say that I prefer the interface of Online Armor a bit more, and I would also say that for newer users, Online Armor, as run right from install, is better suited to protect one's system, with minimal user input. Of course, that's just my opinion, I realize that there are many who could disagree.

For a newer user who would like a top notch firewall that can be installed, and run as-is, I'm thinking Online Armor would work nicely.

However, as you say, there are 2 freeware and 1 pay firewalls that are ranked at the top, for the time being.... :-)

Although the products will continue to improve:

Vendor Responses

Comodo Group - the vendor of Comodo Personal Firewall

Comodo Group expressed their great enthusiasm about our results, which is understandable because their results were marked as excellent. As a result, they have published their own press release about our results. We were also informed that the latest beta version of Comodo Personal Firewall is able to stop the Coat leak-test, which was the only test that its older version failed. Since version 2.4.16.174 Comodo firewall has passed the Coat leak-test.

If you have spent a great deal of time setting up or configuring your firewall, you might be reluctant to throw it all out for a relatively minor gain. (especially if in a few months Comodo will also be "perfect").

Still if you are using one of the lesser (lower scoring) firewalls thinking you are protected - it's probably a good time to install a firewall that actually works. (I knew some of the big names needed "some work" - but perhaps I was being too kind).

Anyone relying on the Windows Firewall, you can further increase your protection by a factor of 100% - by tightly wrapping a beach towel around your head.

The only FREE firewall with 100% leak protection out of the box. This is a very good FREE firewall, and tested at the very top of the list in firewall leak test ratings. Have a look at http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php#firewalls-ratings to see for yourselves the results as compared with the other "Big Boys".

I have been using Comodo Firewall, but after comparing it's score of 9475 against Online Armor Free's score of 9625, a perfect score, well, I've made the switch!

Sadly, this program is not suitable for Windows Vista.

If you are interested, you can get a copy at: http://www.online-armor.com/online_armor_free.html

Take some time and read the information presented... you may just start running a new firewall yourself! As always, thoughts and comments are welcome. :-)