Ashampoo Firewall FREE 1.20

Ashampoo Firewall is a free product designed to protect your computer from unauthorized intrusions from the Internet or Local Area Network.

The firewall allows you to create a set of rules for each and every application which attempts to connect to the Internet or another LAN computer or even tries to gain access to privileged resources such as other application. Thus, it provides full control over all network activity and creates statistics and logs concerning all inbound and outbound connections. In case of emergency or when you suspect that a trojan, spyware or virus are active in your system you can shut down all connections with a single click and limit the damage inflicted on your computer.

Ashampoo features also a few system tools: the AutoStart Manager allows you to configures all applications which are loaded at StartUp as well as Internet Explorer plugins; the The Process Information tool allows you to manage or terminate any of the ongoing processes; the Internet Cleaner protects your privacy when surfing the Internet; the IP Spam Blocker stops popup spam sent via Windows Messenger service.

You can use Ashampoo Firewall in Easy Mode, meaning that many processes are automated and you do not have access to some of the advanced settings, e.g. specify port rules. This mode is recommended for beginners.

The use of Expert Mode is recommended for advanced users, since it provides full access control over applications, connections and ports. Due to the well designed interface, both modes are easy to use.

Pluses: The good thing is that the actions are very explicit: for example, when the program reports a connection attempted by another installed application, not only displays the path of the application, but also the target IP and the port used.

You can monitor Internet connections, LAN connections and Local connections (used to transfer data between different applications).

Drawbacks / flaws:

In conclusion: During the tests, the program successfully blocked unwanted connections (hacking attempts) and blocked keyloggers, dialers. And we didn't get any conflicts with other installed antivirus programs or firewalls (Zone Alarm security Suite and Panda Titanium 2006). A very good Internet and LAN security enforcement freeware.

version reviewed: 1.0