In relevant part the review said:
This might not be too bad if these extras were part of a great firewall, but we weren't too impressed with Outpost's intrusion detection. It blocked the port scans and reported them, but missed our Windows file-sharing attack and the web scans. It's £10 more expensive than McAfee's product, costs more to run after the first year and is not as simple to use
Does Outpost 2.1 lack the ability to block Windows file sharing attacks and web scans?
Anyone in the group have any comment?
I really love Outpost 2.1 and would hate to go back to Zone Alarm Pro which hogs system resources and noticably slows my browsing, but if Outpost has those weaknesses I'm not really sure I can stay with it.
Thanks in advance.
In my opinion, the review was pretty pathetic. They did not consider leaktest performance, did not attempt a proper penetration test (using tools like NMap) and didn't give any configuration details. As for cost, they seemed to think Outpost cost £39 when Agnitum's website charges US$39 (about £25) and didn't seem to have a clue about the upgrade policy (i.e. Outpost doesn't require any further payments to use, only to update).
The "web scan" was, IIRC, a test of websites' abilities to plant cookies, track referer details, etc. This is covered by the Active Content plugin, but this does need to be enabled - which suggests to me that they didn't do it. As for file sharing, Outpost does by default permit NetBIOS traffic from addresses in your own LAN segment while blocking Internet access - I guess they haven't figured that there is a difference. :rolleyes:
On the whole, a better reason to change magazine than change firewall.
Aside from a few bugs, I am happy with OP and testing the multitude of other personal firewalls out there, I still think its the best flat out.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/labs_subindex.php?issue=114&headline=Personal+firewalls&filename=personal+firewalls_114_1.pdf
Actually Outpost is more expensive then Mcafee for at least some countries in Europe.
This is what we have to pay:
Mcafee personal firewall plus 5.0 EURO 38,90 (incl.taxes) retail
Outpost firewall pro 2.1 EURO 47,54 (incl.taxes) website
Norton personal firewall 2004 EURO 47,95 (incl.taxes) retail
So you can't say it's cheap for software that is still not 100%.
try this link...http://www.pcflank.com/review_outpostpro1.htm
this one is more reliable...paranoid is right ..you better change magazine...:)
I have never really been a fan of Computer Shopper though.
active content filter activated and have my Lans Net Bios and Trusted settings unchecked. Yes, I have read Paranoid 2000's guide to Outpost safety.
As for viewing the "review", I reached it by going to http://www.computershopper.co.uk, clicking on the Labs button, getting a list of reviews and clicking on the Personal Firewalls, May '04 entry. Sometimes I was asked to "register" and I did do so, but it was free.
Given the comments here, particularly Paranoid 2000's, I got what I paid for!
Thanks again.
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