Sunbelt Software released a new version of their Sunbelt Personal Firewall, which is my choice for my computer and my family’s computers, which now works with 32-bit versions of Windows Vista, which Sunbelt has been promising, as well as working with Windows XP.

Why do I use the Sunbelt Personal Firewall and not just the Windows XP firewall? The Windows XP Firewall only stops attempts by other computers to access my computer. The Sunbelt Personal Firewall is a two-way firewall to control inbound and outbound communications. That way, I can control programs that want to "call home" or otherwise access other computers.

Why would I use the Sunbelt Personal Firewall and not the Windows Vista firewall? Microsoft finally woke up and made the Windows Vista firewall a two-way firewall. However, I expect that it, like the firewalls from some of SPF’s competitors, allows Microsoft’s products to freely communicate with the Internet. I like the Advanced installation setting because it does not pre-authorize any programs.

For those who want free software, Sunbelt Personal Firewall has a free license for home non-business computers. Of course, like many of its competitors, the paid vesion has more features than the free version. Either way, the program you download is the same — and it’s a 30-day free fully-functional trial of the paid-license version.

After 30 days, you can purchase a license for the paid version. If you don’t purchase a license, or after your license expires if you don’t renew it, if you qualify, you can use the free license for the reduced function free version. The web site clearly shows which functions are included with the paid license that are not available with the free version.

I have the "paid version" on my Windows computers and my family’s computers.

The 1-year license pricing options are: $19.95 for one license, $24.96 for two computers, $29.94 for 3 computers, or $39.95 for the 1-year Unlimited Home Site License (which lets you put it on all your home non-business computers — and was MY choice…). They have similar discounts for the 2- and 3-year options, too.

Download the full-function 30-day trial of Sunbelt Personal Firewall — Click Here