Which is the best free firewall that can be used smoothly with windows 7 firewall and avast!6 free…?
Most firewalls won’t work with the windows 7 firewall generally it is only one firewall running/installed. The Avast Internet Security suite’s firewall is meant to be compatible, but of course you are going to be using avast free and no firewall in that.
Best is also subjective, what is best for someone isn’t necessarily best for all.
There are several topics already about firewalls in the General forum.
There is w7 firewall control by sphinx software.
It makes configuring w7 firewall (inbound and outbound) much easier.
I tried it briefly - seemed ok.
I did have Online Armor Free until I discovered that OA was causing difficulties with downloads on my Windows 7. For now I am using the Windows firewall. I seems that MicroSoft has created a better firewall. 
I must correct myself DavidR is so right outbound protection is a must anymore. And after further research it wasn’t OA Free that caused the problem. I was something entirely different. I’m going back to OA Free.
If you are behind a router firewall, then the W7 firewall is more then enough. If you aren’t behind a router, then just set the W7 firewall to “public” and you’re good to go. Don’t waste time and resources on complicate 3rd party firewalls.
Whilst the win7 firewall is better than previous incarnations of the windows firewall, the outbound protection is disabled by default, that should be enabled.
Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet (and not all malware comes from the internet) to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (sensitive or otherwise, user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so I believe outbound protection is essential.
I use privatefirewall 7.0 from privacyware.com. free, easy to use, learning mode, etc.
I have had no problems with integration or while running avast.
As you know results may vary depending on computer, user etc, but I have this set-up on 5 PCs and 2 laptops using XP, Vista and Win 7 with no problems anywhere.
Windows firewall…
Windows firewall in windows vista and win 7 are stronger…
Strong doesn’t cut it if the user can’t set it up as on their own, it is rules based and the user has to have some general firewall knowledge to set the rules and as I mentioned enable outbound protection.
This is a good recommendation for ZoneAlarm, it’s easy to use and strong.
Sorry I don’t use the words easy to use and Strong in relation to Zone Alarm in the same sentence.
I personally don’t feel it is that strong, easy to use is a somewhat subjective term as to strengthen it up I feel you have to stray away from the default low sensitivity settings.
I left ZA many, many years ago when it was very user friendly hardly a peep out of it at all and it did nothing about Blaster, etc. etc. That really is a long time ago and I have never forgotten that or been tempted back. On the other hand Outpost 1.0 free and later Outpost Firewall Pro versions have never let me down and it is relatively easy to use.
Correct me if I am wrong. But hasn’t Zone Alarm caused and/or created conflicts with avast!? ???
Yeah, they had their bad times together in the past…
You’re right.
And it’s still no dream team, imo.
Please read posts 11, 12 and 13.
I like people that live in the past, it’s so easy to zip past them. ;D ;D ;D
Dream on. ;D 
Yep! I remember this in the past too when I switch from ZoneAlarm to Comodo FW and now I’m using Outpost Pro FW I bought a lifetime licence from Outpost for 30% off 
IMO, there are some people in this thread smoking wacky weed. I’ve been a long time user of ZA & avast!.
The dream team for avast! is avast!, WinPatrol and ZA. Secure and no problems.
I’ve got about 6 months left on my subscription to AIS, it’s a shame to let it go to waste, but MSE keeps my computer more secure than avast!.
It would be nice if you would encourage me to go back to AIS.
But the BS your spreading isn’t helping matters. :
OT: Excused me rdmaloyjr you’re avatar tell me you’re a smoking wacky weed for using ZA far to long because of a very poor proactive security test in the free version, unless you’re using ZoneAlarm Extreme Security version which is not to bad but not free and you can’t beat Outpost Pro lifetime licence which is a great price to pay or Private firewall and Comodo for free. I’ve had enough of Comodo for 4 years using the v5.4 because its getting a bit heavy on my XP and Outpost Pro its just right ;D
Now I know DavidR using Outpost Pro and if I have a minor problem with it I’ll send him a PM and free beer ;D