The firewall software in Outpost Security Suite is not just a firewall because it is rule-based firewall software with two-way protection. It has the ability to protect itself from malicious software that is programmed to shutdown the protection by a user. The must have function in a firewall software also exist in OSS 2009 and that is the policy controls – to block or allow traffics without turning off any network connections. This is quite useful if you have a home network because you can stop the internet traffic in a computer that have Outpost product while allowing other computers in your network to enjoy the connection.
Outpost Security Suite’s antimalware protection is updated more than once a day and you can configure the program to check for updates daily, hourly or weekly. The malware scanner is able to run in the background to allow a user to continue working with the computer while doing a scan and not using too much computer resource.
Malicious software (aka malware) do not only spread thru downloads or instant messenger file transfer but it is now distributed thru email (often called “malware SPAM”) and web pages. This method by malware writers often put many users machine into its knees but Outpost Security Suite will help prevent because the product will not only protect the machine from hackers (using its firewall and Host protection module) and malware (using its antivirus and antispyware protections) but will also provide protection on emails and web pages using its’ antispam, Site Blacklist and web control protection.
The Web Control in Outpost Security Suite has the ability to block many web-based threats ActiveX, Java applets, Referrers, Flash, Cookies, Hidden frames, Animated GIF, External active content, JavaScript, VBscript, Scripting activeX, Pop-up windows, advertisement by keywords or image size and spyware embedded in web pages.
The antispam protection by Outpost is using Bayesian anti-spam engine and it supports the popular email clients, Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and The Bat!
The Site Blacklist function in Outpost Security Suite will help protect a computer from drive-by malware infection or phishing attacks. This site blacklist is updated often by Agnitum.
Another feature of Outpost Security Suite that I like is the IP Blocklist. This function allows a user to add their own custom HOSTS file by blocking bad domains. The program will resolve the domain to block the malicious domain’s IP address. What is cool blocking by IP addresses is you are protected to new malicious host names that will use the same IP addresses that in your blocklist. If you are using a third party HOSTS file protection that is blocking by domain/URL address, IP Blocklist in Outpost is an extra layer of security.
