We’d like to welcome everyone to the first public beta of our brand-new integrated security solution for Windows Vista. Many thanks to our inside teams who steered us from beta 1 through to this first public beta. We’ve incorporated a number of suggestions they made, and have also spent a lot of time making sure the software runs smoothly in Vista environments. Now we’re ready to hear your opinions, so please go ahead and download the public beta version here! We look forward to your feedback.
The major new functionality we’ve added is an AutoLearn functionality. We’ve sometimes been criticized in the past for forcing users to make too 
many decisions, so we’ve introduced this functionality to deal specifically with this issue. If enabled, Outpost Security Suite Pro switches to idle mode whereby it assumes program activity is legitimate and consequently allows network access and process interaction to all requesting programs. As different programs access the Internet and interact with other software, OSS memorizes their identities and assigns them allowing policies according to which those programs will continue to access the Internet without triggering “new connection” prompt after the auto-learn period expires and the computer is switched back to normal monitoring mode.
This measure is aimed at reducing alerts during the initial stage of Outpost operation and memorizing typical trusted activities performed by a user.
We haven’t made any significant changes to the Suite’s Antimalware and Antispam engines, but we have made some changes to the firewall part of the solution:
Security- Full program operation for users with limited rights
- Improved isolation of Outpost Firewall processes from external interference
- Complete ‘background’ functionality, including automatic rule application
- 100% invisibility in stealth mode
Usability
- Three toolbar buttons for increased ease of use by less experienced users; advanced user interactions are unaffected
- Settings interface allows the implementation of general security levels as well as detailed configuration.
- Full support for Fast User Switching technology
- Simplified program auto-configuration
Compatibility
- Log files are now available in an open format, so they can be viewed with third-party software
- Outpost now detects partial incompatibilities with third-party products during installation and disables potentially-conflicting functions before they can cause any problems. Please tell us about any of these situations you encounter, so we can undertake further compatibility testing and remediation.
We’ve also decreased the resources load, so there will be a much smaller performance hit than before.
However, this public beta version has a number of important limitations:
- It doesn’t work under Windows 9x (the trend will remain the same in the final release as well)
- Web Control module (including Content, Ads, Active Content, ID Block and suspicious sites access monitor) is currently disabled
- Real-time email attachments scanner is disabled
- Antispam module is currently unavailable
- Compatibility issues with third-party NDIS filters under Windows Vista (network monitor software, other security software)
- This beta is launched only in the English version
The limitations listed above will be discarded in the nearest future, and you’ll receive a respective notification.
We encourage you to download this beta version at your earliest convenience and keep your eye on the updates. Besides, please don’t hesitate to submit discovered bugs. And if you’re a particular fan of Outpost Firewall Pro and want to focus on how that’s working with Vista, just disable all the plugins and run the Firewall as a standalone solution!
When we release the final product will depend in large part on what you tell us needs fixing during this beta process, but we are aiming for end of September – early October.
Alexey Belkin
Chief Software Architect
Agnitum Ltd.
Agnitum, its devoted users and Chinese partners have found their own way around the so-called Great Firewall of China. By… supporting a Chinese-language forum. Opened a few days ago, Kafan Chinese Outpost User-Operated Support Forum is already making good progress.