Recently, I was looking for a firewall for Windows 7, and despite what you might think, that’s much harder then it sounds. The reason being is that I’m using WinPatrol for my HIPS and I don’t want to have a second one on m system, striking out Online Armor. Although, I found out later you could disable their HIPS, I still wasn’t too keen in using it either. At the same time, I don’t support Comodo for their security certificate issues which hopefully have been resolved but there is no assurances. When I last used PC Tools Firewall, I was annoyed out of my mind, still turning off their HIPS but it couldn’t remember what I had asked of it, so it prompted again and again, even after I asked for it to remember my settings. Finally, I gave up and went to using a front end to Windows Firewall, which is why today, I’m going to show you why you shouldn’t count it out just yet.

To start off, Sphinx Software makes an application called Windows 7 Firewall Control, which is available in a Free or Plus edition, as well as an interesting ‘Portable’ install of their Firewall as well. While I must pass on touching the Portable version, just that unique fact alone is something I found rather interesting about them. Windows 7 Firewall Control is exactly what it sounds like, offering a front end to a tad clunky interface that Microsoft rolled out for their firewall.

What I’m showing you here is the Advanced Screen that Microsoft rolled out, that allows for a wide level of customization under Windows 7. To make sure something won’t connect to the internet, you’ve got to modify the Outbound Rules, which while easier thanks to a wizard, is still a very clunky way of working with the built in Firewall. To compare it to Sphinx Software’s front end…

You simply hit the Plus sign, choose the application you wish, then set a rule for it. It isn’t any simpler then that. And like most firewalls that we’re used to under Windows, it will prompt you when it starts noticing applications accessing the internet. Unlike many firewalls I’ve used, however, the default is set to Block in the free version, so it won’t connect if you start using it without making a rule. The only thing that I’ve noticed about this ‘firewall’ application that I don’t like is the sound effect it makes when it detects a new process trying to access the internet, as well as the integration into the Windows 7 taskbar, both of which are possible to disable via the options tab. It’s Free version offers all that you need in a basic Firewall, but it’s Plus version offers quite a few different features as you can see on their site. I’ve not leak tested the Sphinxsoft Firewall, seeing as it’s technically Windows Firewall and as such, should preform the same way, to an extent. It is also very lightweight in running, taking no more then 3 megabytes of RAM while actively running. I’ve been testing their free version and I must say, I’m very much impressed on how much control I’ve now gained over Windows Firewall. If you look on Google carefully though, you will find an older version that will work for Windows XP, but with the new version, Sphinx-Soft is focusing on Windows Vista and 7. If you’re looking for a powerful, light, and completely functional front end for Windows Firewall, Sphinx-Soft Windows 7 Firewall Control is definitely my choice in all regards.

– Sphinxsoft Windows 7 Firewall Control –