slate_leeper asked:

"...what is the best free firewall program that allows custom blocking rules
and does not contain the word "zone" in it? "
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Opinions are personal beliefs or judgments that are not founded on proof or
certainty.
Be careful, after all it's *your* computer.
Have a look at http://www.firewallleaktester.com/tests_overview.php before
making further assumptions about the effectiveness of free firewalls. Press
the "view results" button at the bottom and look at how free and other
personal "firewalls" perform especially with regards to outbound control.

The *best* may not be free.

Good luck