One great disappointment is Internet Firewall 2000. Its feature set is limited and the interface lacks good organization. IFW's behavior of opening ports creates an enormous security risk, one that I'm not willing to take. As for its integrated feature set, most of these options can already be found in currently available freeware. I can find no real usefulness for this product compared to the other firewalls covered in this review. I honestly would not waste the time to download the Internet Firewall 2000 demo, let alone spend $39 for the full version.

BlackICE Defender fared better than IFW2K, as it does feature several useful options. Its logging capabilities exceed the usability of any other product in this review. BID could use several improvements, however. A potential security risk is its inability to filter outgoing packet data. As intrusion programs become more sophisticated, the lack of outbound filtering could prove hazardous. Since outgoing connections are not monitored, a malicious program could transfer files and even personal information to any persons wishing to use the data for malicious purposes. Do remember that BlackICE Defender isn't free, and I believe that better freeware packages are currently available.

McAfee Personal Firewall offers decent options to protect a single system for most Internet attacks. With a few updates to the base configuration, this package could be a powerful product. The interface is easily serviceable, especially for first time firewall users. The only major flaw I noted is the lack of viable LAN support features. It is hoped that McAfee will address this issue with a future release, as they have a great foundation to build on.

Zonelabs' ZoneAlarm is a great freeware package. With simple network settings and a great interface, this adds up to a powerful Internet security package. ZA could become one of the best solutions available with a few minor improvements to the base package. The addition of more advanced configuration options would be useful, and would complete the already impressive feature set of this package. Even without this feature, ZoneAlarm proves to be a valuable product. I would have little problem in recommending this product to anyone seeking a decent personal firewall.

I would designate Sygate Personal Firewall as the most comprehensive personal firewall solution reviewed. SPF's robust feature set combined with an efficient interface makes it suitable for all Internet users, whether they be novices or network administrators. With a freeware personal version available, I would recommend that all Internet users take a look at this product. The current version offers excellent security, and I only see SPF improving with future releases. If you only try one product, then Sygate Personal Firewall should be it.

The results of this firewall comparison are rather interesting. In most scenarios, the freeware applications were capable of meeting and even exceeding the capabilities of the purchased packages. It is refreshing to see that freeware applications are still viable, especially in this era when most useful products are tagged with costly prices.