S
Sue
If I have the built in firewall for xp enabled, do I need
to install another one? Will that be enough for dialup?
to install another one? Will that be enough for dialup?
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K
Ken Blake
In
The fact that it's dialup is irrelevant.
The XP firewall monitors incoming traffic, but does nothing to
stop spyware programs trying to call home. It also is much less
configurable than other choices (although that's improved in
SP2).
For those reasons I recommend the free version of ZoneAlarm
instead. You don't need and shouldn't run two firewalls
Sue said:If I have the built in firewall for xp enabled, do I need
to install another one? Will that be enough for dialup?
The fact that it's dialup is irrelevant.
The XP firewall monitors incoming traffic, but does nothing to
stop spyware programs trying to call home. It also is much less
configurable than other choices (although that's improved in
SP2).
For those reasons I recommend the free version of ZoneAlarm
instead. You don't need and shouldn't run two firewalls
K
Ken Blake
In
I completely disagree; it is far from irrelevant. You may do
whatever you think best for your own computer, but that's
irresponsible advice to give others.
You are willing to make the assumption that what you to do to
keep your computer clean of spyware\adware is perfect. I am never
willing to make that assumption, so I prefer the belt *and*
suspenders approach.
That's especially true, since there are adequate freeware
programs that provide that extra protection. That way I have the
belt and add the suspenders for free.
The Unknown P said:I have never had or used a third party firewall and find the
free one
in XP HE adequate for my stand alone home use computer. The
fact that
it doesn't monitor outgoing traffic as suggested by Ken is
irrelevant.
I completely disagree; it is far from irrelevant. You may do
whatever you think best for your own computer, but that's
irresponsible advice to give others.
There really isn't a need to monitor outgoing if you
learn how to keep your computer clean of spyware\adware and do
not
allow any programs including windows to autoupdate.
You are willing to make the assumption that what you to do to
keep your computer clean of spyware\adware is perfect. I am never
willing to make that assumption, so I prefer the belt *and*
suspenders approach.
That's especially true, since there are adequate freeware
programs that provide that extra protection. That way I have the
belt and add the suspenders for free.
M
Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)
You're response is not only wrong, it's irresponsible. You can go to a
website and click a link that surreptitiously places something unintended on
your system. The only way you'd know if this item began calling out is if
you had something to alert you. You're response does not leave room for
human error or the various surreptitious means of which items can end up
placed on a user's system; even the most careful of individuals can get
burned.
The fact it may never have happened to you is irrelevant and Ken's post is
quite relevant.
website and click a link that surreptitiously places something unintended on
your system. The only way you'd know if this item began calling out is if
you had something to alert you. You're response does not leave room for
human error or the various surreptitious means of which items can end up
placed on a user's system; even the most careful of individuals can get
burned.
The fact it may never have happened to you is irrelevant and Ken's post is
quite relevant.
B
Bruce Chambers
Greetings --
WinXP's built-in firewall is _adequate_ at stopping incoming
attacks, and hiding your ports from probes. It doesn't give you any
alarms, or any other kind of indication, to tell you that it is
working, though. Nor is it very easily configurable. What WinXP also
does not do, is protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you (or
someone else using your computer) might download and install
inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all, other
than to check for IP-spoofing, much less block (or at even ask you
about) the bad or the questionable out-going signals. It assumes that
any application you have on your hard drive is there because you want
it there, and therefore has your "permission" to access the Internet.
Further, because the ICF is a "stateful" firewall, it will also assume
that any incoming traffic that's a direct response to a Trojan's or
spyware's out-going signal is also authorized.
ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better than WinXP's
built-in firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are
free versions of each readily available. Even the commercially
available Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall is superior by far,
although it does take a heavier toll of system performance then do
ZoneAlarm or Sygate.
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH
WinXP's built-in firewall is _adequate_ at stopping incoming
attacks, and hiding your ports from probes. It doesn't give you any
alarms, or any other kind of indication, to tell you that it is
working, though. Nor is it very easily configurable. What WinXP also
does not do, is protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you (or
someone else using your computer) might download and install
inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all, other
than to check for IP-spoofing, much less block (or at even ask you
about) the bad or the questionable out-going signals. It assumes that
any application you have on your hard drive is there because you want
it there, and therefore has your "permission" to access the Internet.
Further, because the ICF is a "stateful" firewall, it will also assume
that any incoming traffic that's a direct response to a Trojan's or
spyware's out-going signal is also authorized.
ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better than WinXP's
built-in firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are
free versions of each readily available. Even the commercially
available Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall is superior by far,
although it does take a heavier toll of system performance then do
ZoneAlarm or Sygate.
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH