Firewall

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter
  • Start date Start date
P

Peter

I have a new computer running XP. Is it enough to enable the firewall or do
I have to configure some things more ( with the advanced button )?

Thanx
Peter
 
from the wonderful said:
I have a new computer running XP. Is it enough to enable the firewall or do
I have to configure some things more ( with the advanced button )?
Click to expand...

Enabling the firewall is a good start, however the XP firewall is pretty
lightweight - you'd be better off with the free version of ZA (Zone
Alarm) or better yet a hardware firewall/router/switch if you are on
broadband. One of the problems with the XP one is that it only traps
inbound nasties - if your PC is 'phoning home' for any reason, you'll
never know.
 
GSV Three Minds in a Can said:
Enabling the firewall is a good start, however the XP firewall is pretty
lightweight - you'd be better off with the free version of ZA (Zone
Alarm) or better yet a hardware firewall/router/switch if you are on
broadband. One of the problems with the XP one is that it only traps
inbound nasties - if your PC is 'phoning home' for any reason, you'll
never know.
Click to expand...
If your PC is phoning home, it's likely *not* because you didn't have
application permissions in place :).
The game is already over by the time an applications based firewall offers
up a red flag.
 
from the wonderful person said:
If your PC is phoning home, it's likely *not* because you didn't have
application permissions in place :).
The game is already over by the time an applications based firewall offers
up a red flag.
Click to expand...

Depends on what's doing the phoning. There are many bits of
spyware/trojans which get caught by outgoing packet checks, but which
are otherwise fairly harmless (of course ad-aware, or Spybot S&D will
catch many of them too).. Strange in/out activity is an early indication
of something being not well.
 
I also have NAV 2004 installed as "autoprotect " and Ad-aware.
Do I need to (auto)start Ad-aware when windows boots-up, or is a weekly scan
enough?

thanx
Peter
 
from the wonderful said:
I also have NAV 2004 installed as "autoprotect " and Ad-aware.
Do I need to (auto)start Ad-aware when windows boots-up, or is a weekly scan
enough?
Click to expand...

Weekly works for me. If you use Spoybot S&D (www.security.kolla.de iirc)
you can have it immunise IE6 so the wretched adware doesn't get
downloaded in the first place.
 
GSV Three Minds in a Can said:
you can have it immunise IE6 so the wretched adware doesn't get
downloaded in the first place.

--
Click to expand...
There's another app that's useful, if you use IE. It's called
SpywareBlaster. It blocks something like.....well the actual number is
933...instances of ActiveX based spyware. IE SpyAd is another app, that sets
up restricted sites and cookies. Assuming your restricted sites preferences
are set correctly, it offers an additional layer of protection.
 
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