Spyware, viruses, & security : Help! What FIREWALL is better to use, Windows or Pc-Cillin?

My experience with Comodo Firewall Pro version 3

I have read a few responses supporting Comodo. That's a little off topic (the author of this thread asked for opinions regarding Pc-Cillin versus Windows Firewall), but based on my experience with Comodo, I'm compelled to respond in the hopes it will help others from making the same mistake I made.

To preface my comments, I'm probably an "average" computer user (certainly not a programmer or techie or a power-user). So these remarks are for those who probably fall within the novice to average computer skill level range. My hunch is that is probably most of us.

I have Eset Nod32, Superantispyware, and Spybot S&D on my system, along with CCleaner. Without too much difficulty, I have been able to fairly quickly figure out the basics of these programs and then progress to some of their more advanced features. About a month ago I downloaded Comodo Firewall Pro (CFP) version 3 based on the positive things I read about it here and on other web sites. I failed to pay attention to what critics had to say. My learning experience with CFP was quite an eye-opener compared with the other programs I just mentioned.

In my opinion, a good software program should meet four criteria: (1) It should do it's job reasonably well, (2) It should have understandable instructions and be fairly easy to figure out the basics, (3) it should not have major bugs that will cause system crashes, and (4) it should have an effective uninstaller that will sufficiently remove the program without leaving residual traces behind that interfere with your system. I believe Comodo Firewall Pro version 3 fails at three of these four criteria.

Regarding (1), my understanding is that CFP does very well in leak tests. Assuming that is an accurate understanding, then kudos to them. Regarding (2), CFP may be effective, but I never could figure out how it works...not even the basics. The terminology and instructions are difficult to understand and unless one has a lot of experience with firewall and HIPS concepts, it will leave you feeling dazed. Regarding (3), the last straw for me in trying to cope with this monster was when I ran a routine CHKDSK (Check Disk), which is something I do every few weeks along with defragging just to keep my hard drive well-maintained. I don't even know how to describe what happened next other than to say my system had a major crash and would not reboot, not even in Safe mode. My wife and I finally got it restarted using something called Last Known Good Configuration. I now read in Comodo's forums that a major bug in CFP causes system crashes like this when the user is running CHKDSK. Lastly regarding (4), it's also acknowledged in Comodo's forums that the CFP uninstaller is impotent. My experience was similar as those mentioned in those threads, i.e., the uninstaller is so poor and leaves so much of the program behind that Windows still thinks CFP is installed and you can't reactivate Windows Firewall. I spent hours last night ripping a plethora of remaining Comodo entries out of the registry until I got bleary-eyed. Even that wasn't good enough. I then had to run a command and delete some files in Explorer to apparently reset Windows Firewall. I'll find out later today or tomorrow if I was successful (hoping and praying).

I believe no novice or average computer user should have to go through this, regardless whether or not the product is "free". Indeed, the time I spent this past month coping with CFP cost a lot more than what I would have spent buying a more user-friendly firewall product. I also believe and respectfully submit that CNET needs to be more careful in their software evaluations by factoring in the four criteria mentioned in my comments before recommending a product (as they've done in their blogs).