I don’t see a problem with operating behind just a router firewall. However, it is “well advised” that you augment it with a software firewall. But I don’t consider it a prerequisite. Nevertheless, in some cases the hardware firewall is so good that installing a software firewall alongside it may cause conflicts. Once again, if what ever you are using is passing the various online firewall tests than what is the big deal? Some people only have locks on their doors and some people take the next step and get an alarm system. Personally, I have a junk yard dog for when I’m not home and a junk yard dog as well as a couple of Ithaca shotguns for when I am home.
I consider avast! Pro and Prevx Pro to be my Junk Yard Dogs, though I might be switching from Prevx one of these days, it depends on what happens when it comes time to renew…
So far, aside from the issue of needing to manually switch off the hurricanesoft firewall, I have had no issues with it at all… but I am still playing with it, and probably will end up testing the pro-free version as well…
@Rain, can you show some screenshots of leaktests with this firewall?
Well, I already conducted the leaktest, so my firewall is configured to stop the program from accessing the internet… I do not care to ‘undo’ the settings, to repeat the test, but I ran the test again, and took a screenshot of the results…
During the innitial test, my firewall came up with a pop-up, (as security software does) and asked me if I wanted to block or allow the program, of course I said no, as instructed, and there were no more pop-ups, so whatever happened next, my firewall was not fooled into thinking a different and/or legitimate program was asking, rather it identified all of the attempts as coming from the same place…
I think only the interface on this firewall is simple, not the actual program itself… (And the Free ‘Pro’ version is much less simple…)
I thought Avast included a firewall in its antivirus. ???
Not in the stadard sense of the word, what avast! has is what are called, ‘Shields’ which scan network/internet/computer activity, and take action if something ontoward happens, or is noticed, or occurs… for some, this is enough protection, and much more than they might already have, especially if coupled with say, the OS Firewall, but for others, well more control is wanted and needed… so sought… control being more inbound and outbound control, and also things like anti spyware software, like AntiHook, or Prevx1, or Process Guard, or whatever things like that…
It all really depends on what you need, what you want, and what your computer can run…