When choosing the best firewall software, there are several items to consider. The top considerations should be: Price, quality, easy to install and easy to use, and what does the product come with. You can rate these items in a personal order of importance.

Price is a major role player. It doesn’t do much good on a store shelf or internet site if you cannot afford the product. The item may have everything you’re looking for in a firewall, but, if it’s too expensive, then it’s not for you.

Quality is important, too. You need to make sure you are not purchasing a bootleg copy off a friend’s cousin’s boyfriend. This may sound funny, but it happens. Spend the time to research the quality of the product. Pirating is not worth it. Neither is spending money thinking you’re getting the real deal, only to find a homemade copy of something in your mailbox.

Easy to install should be a top contender on your wish list of things you’re considering. If it takes a computer tech to install it, then you will need to factor the cost of the tech into the product. In other words, let’s say hypothetically the product costs $50, and it takes a tech 2 hours to install it at a rate of $50 per hour. The product really just ran you $150. It pays to get an easy to install product.

Easy to use is a must! Now that you have the software installed, you need to be able to move around in the programs and use them. If the program is too technical, then you’re back at looking at tech rates again. Not to mention, you may not even know if it is working properly if it’s too difficult.

You want to make sure the firewall has antispyware and virus protection included. This stretches your spending dollar while making sure that your spyware and virus protection software are compatible with your firewall software. Also, if you are shopping online, make sure you look for ratings. Most sites will have a rating system for you to compare products against each other. Make sure you check out the warranty and satisfaction guarantee on the product, too. Some software products do not offer returns once a product is opened.

The last tip I would suggest is to take the time to buy a hard copy disk. Downloads are great and fast, however, if your system crashes, you're left with nothing afterwards. Then you have to repurchase the product. A little time and research on your part will be worth every cent in the long run.