i want a decent firewall and antivirus...

  • Thread starter Thread starter used2be
  • Start date Start date
U

used2be

that doesn't slow down my computer like crazy!

i can't get my XP firewall to allow me to turn it off and on. it's off, but
greyed out, so i can't turn it on. i need one that's free and decent, but
not one that will slow my computer way down.

--
~u2b

+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
 
used2be said:
that doesn't slow down my computer like crazy!

i can't get my XP firewall to allow me to turn it off and on. it's off, but greyed
out, so i can't turn it on. i need one that's free and decent, but not one that
will slow my computer way down.

--
~u2b

+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
Click to expand...

ZoneAlarm® Free Firewall
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en

Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375





--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375





--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
that doesn't slow down my computer like crazy!
Click to expand...

Brian's advice re avast is spot on...
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
(Choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.)
i can't get my XP firewall to allow me to turn it off and on. it's off, but
greyed out, so i can't turn it on. i need one that's free and decent, but
not one that will slow my computer way down.
Click to expand...

....but stay away from PFW

PFW Criticism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_firewall#Criticisms

"Personal Firewalls" are mostly snake-oil.
http://www.samspade.org/d/firewalls.html

Why your firewall sucks.
http://tooleaky.zensoft.com/
"But I quickly realized the truth: The added protection provided by
outbound filtering is entirely illusory."

At Least This Snake Oil Is Free.
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2007/07/19/at-least-this-snake-oil-is-free.aspx

Deconstructing Common Security Myths.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2006/05/SecurityMyths/default.aspx
Scroll down to:
"Myth: Host-Based Firewalls Must Filter Outbound Traffic to be Safe."
Activate and utilize the Win XP SP2 built-in Firewall; Uncheck *all*
Programs and Services under the Exception tab.
Read through:
Understanding Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

Using Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/winfirewall.mspx

How to manually open ports in Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308127

How to Configure Windows Firewall on a Single Computer.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/smallbusiness/prodtech/windowsxp/cfgfwall.mspx

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875357

In conjunction with WinXP SP2 Firewall use:
Seconfig XP 1.0
http://seconfig.sytes.net/
(http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Seconfig-XP-Download-39707.html)
Seconfig XP is able configure Windows not to use TCP/IP as transport
protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving TCP/UDP ports 135, 137-139
and 445 (the most exploited Windows networking weak point) closed.)
OR
Configuring NT-services much more secure.
http://www.ntsvcfg.de/ntsvcfg_eng.html

Consider this:
1. Do not work as administrator, use limtited user account (LUA) for
day-to-day work.
2. Keep your system (and all software on it) patched.
3. Review use of IE and OE.
4. Don't expose services to public networks.

Good luck :)
 
To add a little to what the others said...
You should find out why you are unable to enable the Windows Firewall.
3rd party firewalls sometime that.
Do you now, or has there been another firewall installed?
If no, check for spyware, viruses and other malware, another cause of
your issue.
 
Kayman said:
Brian's advice re avast is spot on...
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
(Choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.)


...but stay away from PFW

PFW Criticism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_firewall#Criticisms

"Personal Firewalls" are mostly snake-oil.
http://www.samspade.org/d/firewalls.html

Why your firewall sucks.
http://tooleaky.zensoft.com/
"But I quickly realized the truth: The added protection provided by
outbound filtering is entirely illusory."

At Least This Snake Oil Is Free.
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2007/07/19/at-least-this-snake-oil-is-free.aspx

Deconstructing Common Security Myths.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2006/05/SecurityMyths/default.aspx
Scroll down to:
"Myth: Host-Based Firewalls Must Filter Outbound Traffic to be Safe."
Activate and utilize the Win XP SP2 built-in Firewall; Uncheck *all*
Programs and Services under the Exception tab.
Read through:
Understanding Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

Using Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/winfirewall.mspx

How to manually open ports in Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308127

How to Configure Windows Firewall on a Single Computer.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/smallbusiness/prodtech/windowsxp/cfgfwall.mspx

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875357

In conjunction with WinXP SP2 Firewall use:
Seconfig XP 1.0
http://seconfig.sytes.net/
(http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Seconfig-XP-Download-39707.html)
Seconfig XP is able configure Windows not to use TCP/IP as transport
protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving TCP/UDP ports 135, 137-139
and 445 (the most exploited Windows networking weak point) closed.)
OR
Configuring NT-services much more secure.
http://www.ntsvcfg.de/ntsvcfg_eng.html

Consider this:
1. Do not work as administrator, use limtited user account (LUA) for
day-to-day work.
2. Keep your system (and all software on it) patched.
3. Review use of IE and OE.
4. Don't expose services to public networks.

Good luck :)
Click to expand...

wow...thanks for the info!!!
 
Jupiter Jones said:
To add a little to what the others said...
You should find out why you are unable to enable the Windows Firewall.
3rd party firewalls sometime that.
Do you now, or has there been another firewall installed?
If no, check for spyware, viruses and other malware, another cause of your
issue.
Click to expand...

i've done so many things to try and figure out why i can't enable it, but
nothing has worked so far. :/
 
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