Best Free Firewall Software

Now for the 3rd part of my 123 method for internet security the firewall.

A firewall is a software program or piece of hardware that helps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the Internet.  If you have a router, you have what is called a hardware firewall if not then you need a software firewall to do the same function.  An even better solution is a combination hardware AND software firewall but it's sometimes harder to configure properly.

In Windows XP, beginning with Service Pack 2, you have a one-way firewall that specifically protects your system from outside attacks, not from local programs abusing your network connection, thus making it less than optimal. 

On Windows Vista and above, the firewall is a much better two-way firewall and is sufficient enough in my opinion.

My choice for software firewall for XP and earlier:

ZONE ALARM FREE ([You must be registered and logged in to see this link.])  One of the 1st and still best free firewalls out there.  It takes some time to set up because you have to teach it as you go but once it's set up, it works amazingly well and is a much better firewall than the one bundled with XP.

Other choices in firewalls:

COMODO ([You must be registered and logged in to see this link.])  Another nice firewall setup that isn't as anal as Zone Alarm when it comes to blocking.  One caveat is that Comodo also offers free anti-virus and spyware stand alone software that, in my opinion, is not as good as earlier suggestions but is still hard to beat with it's 0-cost solution.

There are others, so if you have an alternative, please feel free to share with us.