Comodo Firewall Pro

Infobox Software
name = Comodo Firewall Pro



caption = Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0 under Windows Vista
developer = Comodo Group
latest release version = 3.0.25.378
latest release date = release date|2008|05|30
operating system = Microsoft Windows
platform =
language =
genre = Firewall
license = Freeware
website = [http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/ www.personalfirewall.comodo.com]

Comodo Firewall Pro (CFP; previously COMODO Firewall) is a freeware firewall developed by Comodo Group that provides protection on a Microsoft Windows operating system from both inbound and outbound attacks. Comodo also has an open source firewall for Linux based systems called Trustix [http://www.trustix.com] . While on a 2006 independent review comprised of outbound application filtering tests and leak tests, version 1.1.005 gained only a medium score, [ [http://www.firewallleaktester.com/tests.php Firewalls Outbound Application Filtering Vs Leak Tests - Tests by Firewallleaktester.com] , March 2006 ] on another independent review based on leak tests in 2008, version 3.0.21.329 received 100% on all tests, the highest rating along with Online Armor Personal Firewall 2.1.0.119 [ [http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php Windows Personal Firewall Analysis - Leak-tests results by Matousec.com] , March 2008 ] Version 3.0 includes HIPS (Host Intrusion Prevention System) technology, to protect a computer from unknown attacks.

Version History

Version 2 and 3

Criticism

Although appreciated for being released as freeware, there is a growing community of users frustrated by the lack of developer support in correcting known issues in the versions 2.x. An example is the high CPU usage by CPF.EXE due to input/output processing for writing to a log file, which has been a known issue since February 2007. [ [http://forums.comodo.com/feedbackcommentsannouncementsnews/high_cpu_usage_in_cpfexe_ver_2418184-t13670.0.html Comodo Forum] thread "High CPU usage in CPF.EXE ver. 2.4.18.184", begun October 13, 2007]

Additionally, there are a few serious vulnerabilities in the firewall's design which can be exploited locally, meaning that, while the firewall's protection remains solid, a malware can be designed to shut down or bypass the firewall's control functions if it somehow makes it onto the computer. Several other critical vulnerabilities are known which have not been disclosed. All are as of 2.4.18.184 still unpatched. [ [http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/Comodo-Personal-Firewall-2.3.6.81 Matousec Comodo Firewall Review page] containing vulnerability reports] There is uncertainty as to whether they will be fixed in version 2.5 or not, but an administrator on the beta forum has stated that version 3 should not have any critical bugs left. So far no tests have been conducted on CFP 3. [ [http://forums.comodo.com/cfp_beta_corner/cfp_3011246_rc1_questions_about_how_it_works-t14514.0.html;msg102360#msg102360 Comodo Forum] prognosis for CFP v3 vulnerabilities by administrator] There is currently extremely little or no malware whatsoever designed to thwart CFP, largely due to it not being as widespread as other security solutions.

References

External links

* [http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/ Official Comodo Firewall Pro Website]
* [http://www.trustix.com/ Comodo's open source firewall for Linux]