D
Don
Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
S
Shenan Stanley
Don said:
Depends on your needs and situation.
For most people, it will be MORE than adequate and anything else would be a
pain. The current implementation of the XP ICF only blocks INCOMING
traffic. That means if you get a virus like sasser on your machine somehow,
you will be sending it out to other people and trying to infect them.
Essentially - it can make you into a Typhoid Mary character.
Look around, compare, learn. Don't base your decision strictly on a
question asked once in a newsgroup and a half-dozen answers. Use Google to
research on your own!
ZoneAlarm (FREE and up)
Basic PC protection for the home user
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
Windows XP ICF (comes with Windows XP)
got windows xp? - you have this one if you do
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/using/howto/networking/icf.asp
Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (FREE and up)
builds a barrier between your personal computer and the Internet
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html
Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (FREE and up)
basic protection solution for casual web surfers and low budget systems
http://www.agnitum.com/download/
Sygate Personal Firewall (FREE and up)
the most user-friendly PC firewall and personal desktop security solution
http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm
Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up)
keeps hackers out and personal data in
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/
BlackICE PC Protection ($39.95 and up)
intrusion detection system and a personal firewall for a one-two punch of
protection
http://blackice.iss.net/
Tiny Personal Firewall (~$49.00 and up)
turn your pc into the fortress
http://www.tinysoftware.com/
That should get you started!
G
Guest
everyone uses McAfee
J
joust in jest
everyone uses McAfee
I don't use McAfee, I use Zone Alarm. Even if I were the only such person
in the world of computing, that would be enough people to prove your
assertion to be wrong.
steve
I don't use McAfee, I use Zone Alarm. Even if I were the only such person
in the world of computing, that would be enough people to prove your
assertion to be wrong.
steve
D
dave @ stejonda
In message said:
But the question is, what do they use it for?
--
dave @ stejonda
"To materialist eyes, India is a developing country;
to spiritual eyes, the United States is a developing country."
Ram Dass (an optimist)
M
Mike
Alongside a decent anti-virus program, the XP firewall is good enough to
protect you when you first go online to get Windows XP and anti-virus
updates.. consider using Zonealarm or Sygate firewall, both free.. they are
basic (but good) and there are versions that are better but you have to
pay.. I use McAfee pro version 7 package that includes AV and firewall, so I
use the McAfee offering, and to date have never had a virus or trojan..
others will advise you to go for Norton products.. we all have our
favorites.. the main thing is to ensure that whatever is used is also
updated as and when.. XP firewall will be improved through the release of
SP2, but do NOT install SP2 yet.. wait until it is released in its final
form..
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message
Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
protect you when you first go online to get Windows XP and anti-virus
updates.. consider using Zonealarm or Sygate firewall, both free.. they are
basic (but good) and there are versions that are better but you have to
pay.. I use McAfee pro version 7 package that includes AV and firewall, so I
use the McAfee offering, and to date have never had a virus or trojan..
others will advise you to go for Norton products.. we all have our
favorites.. the main thing is to ensure that whatever is used is also
updated as and when.. XP firewall will be improved through the release of
SP2, but do NOT install SP2 yet.. wait until it is released in its final
form..
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message
Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
U
Unknown
Yes!
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
U
Unknown
Like hell! Where on earth do you get your data? Everyone uses McAfee is the biggest bunch of BS ever on this newsgroup.
everyone uses McAfee
everyone uses McAfee
D
Don
One concern I have is that other firewalls are constantly being updated, but it doesn't seem like the XP one ever is. Or is there a way to update it that I'm not aware of?
J
joust in jest
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message
One concern I have is that other firewalls are constantly being updated, but
it doesn't seem like the XP one ever is. Or is there a way to update it
that I'm not aware of?
--
Don
Yes!
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message
Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
--
Don
As others have pointed out, there are several software firewalls other than
the one supplied by Microsoft.
The basic function of a firewall is to block all incoming ports except for
those assigned for use by Internet browsers.
The firewall supplied with WinXP does this. That firewall does not,
however, block outgoing ports. This feature is not necessary if you keep
your computer free of Worms, Trojans, and Spyware that try to get in your
computer via e-mail and scripts -- those parasites, once on your computer,
make use of outgoing ports to propagate themselves. .
Other firewalls block incoming ports, and also offer various degrees of
customization (e.g. allow you to open a specific incoming port for a
specific use that you specify. Some offer script blocking, some scan
in-coming e-mail, and so forth. It is these extra features, and not the
basic firewall funtion, that is "constantly being updated" .
As others have pointed out, for a typical home user, IF they are diligent
about downloading and installing Windows XP security patches, and If they
are diligent about downloading and installing new Virus definitions for
their Antivirus program -- then the built in Firewall is just fine.
Hope this helps,
steve
One concern I have is that other firewalls are constantly being updated, but
it doesn't seem like the XP one ever is. Or is there a way to update it
that I'm not aware of?
--
Don
Yes!
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message
Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
--
Don
As others have pointed out, there are several software firewalls other than
the one supplied by Microsoft.
The basic function of a firewall is to block all incoming ports except for
those assigned for use by Internet browsers.
The firewall supplied with WinXP does this. That firewall does not,
however, block outgoing ports. This feature is not necessary if you keep
your computer free of Worms, Trojans, and Spyware that try to get in your
computer via e-mail and scripts -- those parasites, once on your computer,
make use of outgoing ports to propagate themselves. .
Other firewalls block incoming ports, and also offer various degrees of
customization (e.g. allow you to open a specific incoming port for a
specific use that you specify. Some offer script blocking, some scan
in-coming e-mail, and so forth. It is these extra features, and not the
basic firewall funtion, that is "constantly being updated" .
As others have pointed out, for a typical home user, IF they are diligent
about downloading and installing Windows XP security patches, and If they
are diligent about downloading and installing new Virus definitions for
their Antivirus program -- then the built in Firewall is just fine.
Hope this helps,
steve
D
Don
Thanks
J
joust in jest
You bet.
steve
steve
Don said:
N
NoNoBadDog!
No. It is for inbound traffic only. It offers no security for outbound traffic, and has very little flexibility. I would opt for either Norton Personal Firewall or the free version of ZoneAlarm.
Bobby
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
Bobby
"Don" <dbitzerATcomcastDOTnet> wrote in message Is the firewall provided with windowsxp good enough?
N
NoNoBadDog!
They do? funny...no one I know uses McAfee...I know I don't, and I would never let it near my machine.
Bobby
everyone uses McAfee
Bobby
everyone uses McAfee
D
David S
Am operating Win XP Home with firewall enabled.
Am planning to switch to DSL with MSN amd am wondering whether it
advisable to supplement the firewall.
I purchased Norton 2004 Pesonal Firewall software, but am looking for
aadvice before loading. I also have Zonealarm (not Pro) loaded and
operative.
Am planning to switch to DSL with MSN amd am wondering whether it
advisable to supplement the firewall.
I purchased Norton 2004 Pesonal Firewall software, but am looking for
aadvice before loading. I also have Zonealarm (not Pro) loaded and
operative.
L
Lawrence
The McAfee CD's make good coasters after AOL stopped mailing me theirs.
U
Unknown
Not necessary to supplement XP's firewall. I have mine turned on, keep the
'puter updated and have never had a virus.
that I'm not aware of?
'puter updated and have never had a virus.
but it doesn't seem like the XP one ever is. Or is there a way to update itDavid S said:
that I'm not aware of?
D
dave @ stejonda
Unknown said:
But XP Firewall provides no protection from unwanted outgoing
connections.
--
dave @ stejonda
"To materialist eyes, India is a developing country;
to spiritual eyes, the United States is a developing country."
Ram Dass (an optimist)
D
Don Burnette
Not really.
For broadband, I prefer a NAT hardware router, like Linksys or Netgear.
They are reasonable priced, and you don't have to worry about it using system resources. Plus,. it gives you the advantage of being able to connect more pc's to the router for internet connection should you desire.
I just have the one pc, and run it behind a Linksys BEFSR41 router, it basically masks the pc behind the router,, and the internet thinks the router is the pc. I have never had a problem with trojans, and do not run any software firewall.
For broadband, I prefer a NAT hardware router, like Linksys or Netgear.
They are reasonable priced, and you don't have to worry about it using system resources. Plus,. it gives you the advantage of being able to connect more pc's to the router for internet connection should you desire.
I just have the one pc, and run it behind a Linksys BEFSR41 router, it basically masks the pc behind the router,, and the internet thinks the router is the pc. I have never had a problem with trojans, and do not run any software firewall.
D
David S
What is NAT router?
I have Actiotec router (DSL Gateway) provided by Qwest--would that do
the same?
David
I have Actiotec router (DSL Gateway) provided by Qwest--would that do
the same?
David