Re:Annoyance (Score 1)

First, this article doesn't name the products tested. Second, firewalls need to be configured in order to maximize security; regardless of whether they are hardware or software firewalls. If you take a stateful packet inspection firewall, such as the one included in F-Secure's AV Client Security or Internet Security 2006, then you have a piece of software that is fully capable of regulating inbound and outbound trafiic. One thing I like about the F-Secure firewall is that it intercepts the packets at the network layer of the OSI and fortifies itself in the OS to prevent applications from hijacking it. Another thing to consider is that users who take their laptop outside of thei network no longer have a hardware firewall sitting in front of their connection.