A portable firewall simply means that it does not write to the registry, that it is complete and functional within its folder and subfolders.
Normally software installs. Some, particularly smaller programs have no install and just run, these are portable. An ever growing number of software applications are portable and also have an install, giving the end user the option to decide.
It isn’t about having a firewall on a USB pen. A USB pen is to move software between non connected computers. It is about, for example, having Comodo Firewall or any other software within a folder and sub folders which will run as normal.
Let us take Comodo Firewall as an example. To install this software you need to have a copy or download it from the internet. Then you need some bogus name and email account that you don’t really care about to get a one time registration. After that you install the software and it phones home to Comodo to check for updates and it links to this forum for discussion.
With a portable version you would have it updated as you like, pass the USB pen to a colleague who would then copy the main folder over, create a shortcut and run the program. The program would run as normal but the registry is untouched and nothing is installed.
Say tomorrow you wanted to change to another firewall. All you need to do is stop the program from running and delete the folder and shortcut.
When one considers the amount of registry entries, folders and files programs leave behind that are supposedly “uninstalled”, it becomes clear that to maintain a clean system, portable software is the way to go.
People won’t uninstall or delete software they like. So it really just becomes a matter of providing people with a choice. A full install the tradtional way or portability, which is growing very fast.
Comodo have got the jump on many businesses with their marketing strategy. I may never need their commerical products but I know the brand name. That is a marketing investment dream come true.
Person A - “Hey, we need an XYZ solution.”
Person B - “Comodo, they provide our firewall for free, which does a good job and they are in that XYZ business area.”
Person A - “Good thinking, lets see what they have to offer.”
Person B - “Here is their website, I have bookmarked it.”
As Comodo make a range of software titles and such a range is increasing it would seem by their thread about suggestions, portability becomes a real consideration.
Even one year ago portability was relatively new. Now do a search and you will find ever more dual options, traditional installations or portability.
About 70% of my applications, in number, are portable. When ever possible I choose a portable version.
A portable firewall does not make it less secure. If that is an issue people may install the tradtional way. For me and a growing number of people, portability is what I am seeking. My systems are secure and I work in a trusted environment.
I hope I have addressed your comments but if not please ask again.
(:WAV)
