Van PC Tools Firewall Plus is versie 7.0 uitgebracht. Deze grote update voor de uitstekende firewall kent veel vernieuwingen. Zo is de zelfbescherming van PC Tools tegen malware die de firewall wil uitschakelen verbeterd.

Verder is met name de interface en de informatie die de firewall geeft beter geworden. PC Tools geeft meer details en mogelijkheden voor het maken van regels en bij de controle van netwerkverkeer. Bovendien zijn de normale en expert-modus geïntegreerd tot één interface.

PC Tools Firewall Plus is vertaald in het Nederlands en gratis te downloaden voor Windows XP, Vista en 7.

Hier de release notes:

• Extensive Security Permission (ESP). PC Tools Firewall Plus has extended its Self Protection to block malicious programs bypassing the firewall. Some malicious programs access the internet by disabling the firewall allowing your personal information to be sent to the internet undetected. PC Tools Firewall Plus intercepts termination requests restricting who can terminate the firewall and modify protected objects.
• Improved Application rules interface displays an application’s details as well as extended/improved user control over input and output rule creation and modification. The new rules interface also allows creation and modification of new ESP rules. This allows the expert user complete control of the network access.
• More informative pop ups PC Tools Firewall Plus is built using the new Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) architecture in Windows 7, Vista™ and Server 2008 to provide you with precise control over all network traffic, including IPv6, on both 32bit and 64bit systems.
• Updated Profiles Interface for greater control over network access profiles. Configure trusted and untrusted network profiles to help ensure your network access to tailored to the security level of the network you’re connected to.
• Network Display has been extended to include detailed available adaptor information including assigned profile, MAC Address and traffic statistics as well as detailed network information including the IP, Gateway IP and subnet mask.
• Normal and Expert modes have been combined into one simple to use interface. The new interface has automatic rule and profile creation for the normal user as well as an interface allowing highly customisable configurations for expert users.

In PC Tools Firewall Plus 6.0.0.88 zijn enkele grote wijzigingen doorgevoerd. Zo is de firewall nu geschikt gemaakt voor Windows 7 en is de interface aangepast en logischer geordend.

Ook zijn de netwerk stuurprogramma's verbeterd waardoor complete 'stealth' op niet-vertrouwde netwerken mogelijk is en is de stabiliteit vergroot.

Een grote verandering is dat profielen zijn ingevoerd waardoor aangepaste instellingen voor verschillende soorten netwerken mogelijk zijn.

Ten slotte zijn nog wat kleine fouten opgelost. Hier de complete release notes:

• Profiles – this major innovation simplifies enormously the ability of the end user to apply customised security settings to the different types of networks which they may encounter. Users can either modify the included default Profiles or create any number of new ones to suit their individual needs.
• Redesigned Network Drivers – the Network Drivers has undergone some major changes to provide complete stealth on untrusted networks, increased stability, full support for the Windows Filtering Platform and a new Vista hooking platform for the TCP/IP Network Layer.
• GUI Changes – The main GUI, whilst maintaining the ‘look & feel’ of PC Tools products, has a new design layout with functions ordered more logically on the main screen. In addition, frames within individual functions have been re-designed to provide ease-of-use and display relevant information for the end user.
• Windows 7 Support – Firewall Plus has been designed to support both 32-bit and 64-bit version of the latest Microsoft operating system – Windows 7.
• Complete Language Support – This version now contains support for all languages. Whilst some minor translation issues still exist, formatting & presentation are good.
• WHQL signing of the NDIS Driver – NDIS driver has been certified with Microsoft Certification.

The fixes in this version include:

• FW slows down Steam Game Interface
• Blocked Packets does not appear in the FW History
• Firewall English installer fails to install NDIS driver in OS with the Danish language
• FW causes loss of connection in certain circumstances after running for several hours (12-15)
• Fixes in the drivers