Jetico Personal Firewall is a powerful and highly configurable software firewall that allows detailed control over your network traffic.

The program provides three layers of protection. A network packet filter checks the validity of network packets, their source, destination address and so on; a network events filter allows you to monitor network and internet connection requests made by applications, allowing or disallowing them as appropriate; and a process activity filter monitors your PC for potential signs of infection, like one process that's attempting to access the internet via another, alerting you to possible problems and allowing you to block them.

And an in-depth rules engine allows you to configure exactly how you'd like each of these layers to work.

Unfortunately none of this is immediately obvious on installation, when we found the program popped up alert, after alert, after alert. If you're looking for a firewall you can install and forget, something that will warn you only when it's sure something serious is happening, then Jetico Personal Firewall isn't for you. At all.

If you're knowledgeable about networking, though, willing to take the time to learn how the program works, and like its ability to configure every aspect of its operation, then you'll find a lot to like about Jetico Personal Firewall. Though whether it's enough to justify the price, we're not entirely sure.