Windows 7 Firewall may or may not be all that most users need in the way of a firewall, but it's very difficult, to make that judgement. The simple interface is very simple, lacking in detail, and the advanced interface is exceedingly complex and would take concerted effort to configure, at a knowledge level beyond that possessed by all but the most advanced users. In addition, much of the terminology used, both in the interface and it's Help file, is Microsoft's own creation, further muddying the waters. I consider myself an advanced user, but I'm no technology snob. I don't need to understand everything, but when it comes to my security and privacy I like to have more than a clue. Even the Berlitz-level English in the Kaspersky suite is more transparent than Windows Firewall. Then I find out that Windows Firewall is defaulted to allow outbound connections, or that it may not prompt you even if you ask it to, and that rules setting is a completely manual process, and...who knows what else I'll discover from news posts and magazine articles? Granted, firewalling is complicated, but I can figure out what the third-party firewalls I have used in the past are doing, which is more than I can say for Windows Firewall, and which is why I will probably end up with a third-party product. Still, and as I said before, I'm no technology snob, so I welcome other viewpoints. I'm not here to argue with you but to learn from you.

"Then I find out that Windows Firewall is defaulted to allow outbound connections"-i think its exact the opposite,try to create a new rule in the outbound tab u'll see the the default behaviour is to block unless u move ur pointer up and click on the allow checkbox(dot style)..correct if im wrong guys!Regards,RR

"Then I find out that Windows Firewall is defaulted to allow outbound connections, or that it may not prompt you even if you ask it to, and that rules setting is a completely manual process, and...who knows what else I'll discover from news posts and magazine articles?"That's the only disadvantage of windows firewall, is not like some third party firewall as in ZA which block in and outgoing traffic or at least prompt you. The other alternative to replace a software firewall is to get a router as most router comes with hardware firewall

I think a massive amount of prompts could excessively charge the system memory and cause a possible vulnerability, aint that right?thats my intuitive thoughts if that has nothing to do with it ,just disconsider(that word exists?) my POV!Regards,RRPS: the only prompt i would like to have in windows firewall is to ask when u enteringto assl(secure) connection then ask if u want to accept that certificate/connection to be continued thats all ,just like KIS (monitoring 443 port)..

Thank you. I'm glad to know that my understanding of Windows 7 Firewall is basically correct. I mean no disrespect to Microsoft. Windows 7 Firewall is a great improvement over the firewalls of XP and Vista, and it offers protection to the many users who don't know about firewalls in the first place. I do not believe that the hardware firewalls in consumer class routers offer sufficient protection to the network. Should a network computer behind the firewall become compromised, the router's firewall offers no protection to the other computers on the network.

Hi DaddyMan,you really should trust in windows 7 firewall its one of the best firewalls out there if not the best,and one peculiar thing to know is that windows firewall is native which means that is the most compatible and works more effeciently with ur system!!have you checked the advance settings for it? i mean all of the advanced settintgs!?i dont know im a bit outdated in terms of third party firewalls but windows 7 firewalls blocks even too much sometimes that,if you dont allow windows update properly or a game it blocks right away and it dont even start sending syncs...i really have a great relationship with win7 firewall and IMO its one of the best fwalls!!if you investigate more in depth windows 7 firewall i bet u'll stick with it ,Trust me!All my best,RRPS: i like that windows firewall works with NAP(network access protection) ,so that is defenetly a Plus!