I stumbled across PC Tooks Firewall Plus free today.

http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

This is a long overdue little utility, there has been nothing to really match it since Norton discontinued their personal firewall back around 2003.

Does the main thing I require of a firewall (and the one thing every other firewall in existance seems determined NOT to let you do) -- block applications on your PC from getting out.

What's wrong with ZoneAlarm?

Way too annoying. Hate ZoneAlarm. This one just gets on with the job without nagging you to death.

Like I said, best little firewall since the discontinued norton personal firewall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Personal_Firewall

The software industry hates firewalls like this, because they are too effective at stopping applications from going E. T. on their owners and phoning home without permission. Not to mention the norton firewall blocked ads too, another reason the industry hated it.

Been using Kaspersky Internet Security since the early 2000.

Not 1 problem since.

I had Kaspersky 2007. It was merely OK. I didn't renew the subscription.

You don't need to pay for Avast or PC Tools Firewall, and they work at least as well as (and in my opinion better than) the products that cost you money.

I just picked up a retail box of Kaspersky Internet security 2011 (3user) for $22. shipped off Ebay.
I remember when I used to buy it off their website for $70.-$80. for 1 license.

2012 is out now and I can upgrade for free, just haven't gotten around to it.

I remember 2007. Had that and 2009............ 2011 is so much nicer.
Tons of options and settings.

I don't need tons of options and settings, just an antivirus that scans my emails and downloads, a firewall that blocks what I tell it to, spyware blaster and some common sense when surfing the 'net.

The stand alone settings are great, no need to change a thing.

Not sure about 2012, but with 2011, Firefox does not support the Anti Banner function.
I use ABP with Firefox and it blocks pretty much everything. I've had zero problems in over 10 years with Kaspersky.

It's something I actually feel safe with, even going to those bad sites that supposedly make you go blind

To be honest, it made me nervous, since most of the the worst viruses/worms/trojans get written in the former soviet bloc and Kaspersky is russian.

Yep, ABP is great (I'm sure the advertisers have a different opinion, but, I pay for my internet access and don't see why I should have to tolerate advertising, its not like OTA television where ads subsidize the whole thing).

I know this first hand. Kyle at HardOCP hates blockage
Don't really care. I understand all of it, but get in line with HollyWood! They have a point, but times they are a changin'!