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Software Reviews

by whwmdw

The reviews and opinions below are posted by SnapFiles visitors. They do not necessarily reflect our opinion, and are solely based on the experience of individual users.

PC Tools Firewall Plus
  • Freeware
  • WinXP/Vista/7

qleft  Locked up computer  qright

PC Tools Firewall Plus version 5.0.0.38
  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 2
  • Value: 2
  • Overall: 2

I tried Firewall Plus, but had problems with computer lockups. I use the Opera browser with Windows XP SP3. Even though I assigned Opera full control in Firewall Plus, the program would hang with sites having Java/scripts elements in the web page. I would have to push the restart button on the tower. After playing with settings and hanging the computer 4 times, I gave up. I have used Comodo and ZA, but was looking for a firewall with smaller footprint. This isn't it for me.

    Review date: Jun 01, 2009

Comodo Internet Security
  • Freeware
  • WinXP/Vista

qleft  Good security and flexibility  qright

Comodo Internet Security version 2.4
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I have used ZA for a number of years as my firewall, but finally gave up due to the sluggishness of the program. With Comodo, my computer and internet responses are faster and I feel that I have more flexibility in tailoring Comodo for my needs. A word of advice for new users of Comodo. During install select the Automatic rules setup instead of Custom. Then use the program for a while to allow or block applications for each occurrence before manually tinkering with the settings yourself. This program has lots of flexibility and you can mess it up big time if you don't know what you are doing.

    Review date: Jan 21, 2007

Telescope
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  Simple, but sweet  qright

Telescope version 7.6
  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 4
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Overall: 4

I've used Telescope for about a year and really like it. The interface is very simple without bells and whistles, but the program allows the use of Boolean expressions and is very fast. Most search tools that I have tried do not allow such filters, which greatly improves search results.

    Review date: Oct 07, 2005

ZoneAlarm
  • Freeware
  • WinXP/Vista

qleft  Great for its primary purpose  qright

ZoneAlarm version 5.5
  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 4

I have used ZA for over 5 years and only ran into problems with the earliest releases of version 5.0 on a Windows XP SP2 machine. The later versions have not caused any problems. I believe many of the hangups with ZA from the other reviewers are due to using ZA with its antivirus and mailsafe features turned on and conflicting with other antivirus programs or Windows XP firewall. I use ZA only for the firewall feature and disable its other features, along with Windows XP firewall. As a firewall ZA is great. I wish that the user could more easily clean out some of the temp files it creates, such as those created during a crash of another program, but the simplistic interface does not provide that feature. Otherwise, I am very happy with it.

    Review date: Jun 04, 2005

CleanCache
  • Freeware
  • Win2000/XP

qleft  Better options available  qright

CleanCache version 2.17
  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 2
  • Ease of use: 1
  • Value: 2
  • Overall: 2

CleanCache requires that you download and install Microsoft's .Net Framework software, which is 26Megs, before Cleancache will work on Windows XP. When I installed the Framework code, it added a new log-on user and ran other services in the background. I don't need this hassle for cleaning Internet debris. Also, Cleancache does not seem to handle multiple browser users' cache or non-traditional cache file locations. I will try another program or clean out files manually.

    Review date: Nov 24, 2004

Tanida Quiz Builder

Tanida Quiz Builder

Create educational quizzes in Flash format that can be distributed online or as standalone .EXE file.

Spytech SpyAgent

Spytech SpyAgent

A powerful monitoring solution to record PC activity, including keystrokes, email and more.

Demo Builder

Demo Builder

Create interactive Flash movies and tutorials to show how applications and systems work.