blocking programs with the avast firewall

hello all, i am new to avast and its terrific. the os i’m using:

windows xp pro (new clean install)

now, with other previous firewalls i had the ability to block certain programs from accessing the internet to update and whatnot(norton, etc). i have checked the forums and cannot find how to do this with avast. this may have been answered but i cannot find it. can anyone tell me step by step how to do this?? thanks

avast is an anti-virus application and in its current version 4.8 doesn’t have a firewall. The network shield provides limited protection against known attack ports, etc. but it isn’t a firewall.

If you have previously used a security suite that comes with an AV and a firewall, the new avast 5.0 Security Suite is in development for release later this year.

So you need to a) enable the windows firewall, which doesn’t do what you hope as it doesn’t have outbound protection or b) install a third party stand alone firewall.

  • There are many freeware firewalls such as, Comodo (care required now it is a suite not to install the anti-virus element), PCTools Firewall Plus, Online Armor and recently released, Outpost Firewall free 6.5 (2009)

See http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php.

Many forum users are using all of the above:

  • PC Tools Firewall seems to have the least user headaches as it doesn’t seem to be constantly asking the user questions about this and that.
  • Online Armor for the most parts fine but it has caused some users grief after avast program updates and that is something you have to watch out for.
  • Comodo is now a suite and you have to do a custom install so as not to install the antivirus element (or use the add remove programs to remove the AV element if already installed), of all the firewalls listed this seems to be the noisiest in asking questions, depending on settings and elements used, so it could be daunting for those not to familiar with firewalls or their systems.
  • Outpost Firewall 2009 free, a cut down version of the Outpost Firewall Pro version, which should still provide good protection, http://free.agnitum.com/. Download, http://www.filehippo.com/download_outpost_firewall/

What was your previous Anti Virus ?

PC Tools Firewall+ is excellent.

thank you all. will try it out

No problem, welcome to the forums.

WARNING ABOUT THE FIREWALL “ZONE ALARM” (ZONE LABS)

Zone Labs Zone Alarm was a popular free firewall for years, and is still attractive for many users-- it does the job reasonably well.

Yet, one caveat about Zone Labs, the publisher of Zone Alarm, should be offered-- it is not a user-friendly organization. This user paid for a licensed version of Zone Alarm, “Zone Alarm Pro”. Although I was tempted to subsequent upgrade for new features on occasion, the quality of Zone Labs support for licensed users became abysmal.

Zone Labs at the time was apparently going through “changes” and there was not even a reply to many, repeated emails for explanation or other technical assistance. Zone Labs essentially forfeited on its pledge in my license to provide technical support. Naturally, all further consideration of an upgrade ended.

Likewise, I did not respond to subsequent Zone Labs nag messages about “upgrading” (for additional cost) to a later version. As I reflected, why pay for promises of tech support which is never delivered?

In fact, not only did Zone Labs ignore my requests for an end to the nag messages (every daily session featured a Zone Labs “upgrade notice” after the firewall loaded), but repeated Zone Labs messages forced me to block the URL of Zone Labs in order to have some peace. Talk about irony-- the Zone Alarm firewall used to block its publisher’s annoying behavior!

At that point, matters with Zone Labs became ugly. Although I used my own licensed and paid-for product quietly, and avoided all further contact with Zone Labs, this company terminated the Windows certificate for the version I had licensed. This condition left my Windows XP Pro system unable to boot into a full Windows session

Zone Labs had the effrontery to put its demands in writing on the Zone Labs website, and these were repeated by a Zone Labs representative when I later inquired (after searching the web for what might be wrong) how Zone Labs could cancel a paid and licensed user. The company representative never offered to explain.

By any standard, an “upgrade” sales campaign appealing on the basis of new product features is one thing, but a forced migration at gunpoint is another. So far as I was able to determine, there was no notice sent by Zone Labs to anybody when it terminated the certificates.

After such cavalier treatment by Zone Labs / CheckPoint Software, how many former Zone Labs users EVER considered Zone Labs again?

After reviewing Komodo and several other popular firewalls, this user upgraded to Sunbelt Personal Firewall (formerly, Kerio Personal Firewall), available for free trial ($19.95 yearly for full license, phone and chat support) from–
http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Home-Home-Office/Sunbelt-Personal-Firewall/

Those who download the full SPF version on trial, but decide to wait, are not left high and dry after the 30-day trial expires-- their full version simply consolidates to a simpler, free version until changed by upgrade to a full license.

After two months of use, my SPF has been marvelously effective, and a pleasure to use. Computer writer Scot Finnie gave SPF high marks for its clear and accessible user interface.