Is xp firewall adequate?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Will Denny
  • Start date Start date
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Will Denny

Hi John

The XP Firewall doesn't monitor outgoing access to the Internet. For that
you will need a 3rd party program. As you have already suggested,
installing ZA, will cover the monitoring of outgoing access to the Internet.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
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I just got a new computer and trying to decide if I should install Zone
Alarm (which I have) or just go with the build in XP firewall. Any
suggestions?
Click to expand...

Both are excellent firewalls that block unwanted attempts to access your
computer. ZoneAlarm has some features that the XP firewall does not have
so you may want to go for that due to the additional features.
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Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows
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In
John said:
I just got a new computer and trying to decide if I should
install Zone
Alarm (which I have) or just go with the build in XP firewall.
Any
suggestions?
Click to expand...


The XP firewall monitors incoming traffic, but does nothing to
stop spyware programs trying to call home. Almost any third-party
firewall (such as ZoneAlarm) does both, and is therefore a better
choice in my view.
 
Well, all advice you,ve been given is pretty spot-on, all you have to do now
is set your clock to the correct zone time. :-)
 
I have the Zone Alarm Pro versions 2 and 4. Tried both and my computer went
into a cycle of reboots, until I was able to get into safe mode and restore
to a pre-Zone Alarm installation. I finally found a current version of the
free standard ZA and it seems to work ok (just doesn't have the bells and
whistles of the Pro version). I was just surprised at the outcome of the
earlier versions. I suspect it has something to do with service pack 2, as I
tried both ZAPros v. 2 and 4 on a computer with XP service pack 1 and it
went smooth with those.

John
 
I just got a new computer and trying to decide if I should install Zone
Alarm (which I have) or just go with the build in XP firewall. Any
suggestions?

Thanks

John
 
Will, Tom, Chuck and Blake, thank you all for the information and advice.
Zone Alarm it will be.

John
 
Windows XP with SP2 is more than adequate for a firewall. Anything additional
just clutters up your computer and invaribly causes problems. Use common sense
and SP2.
 
Hi

The SP2 Firewall doesn't monitor outgoing access to the Internet. I don't
want X program reporting back 'home' with all my personal details, such as
CC number and expiry date.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups
 
Unknown said:
Windows XP with SP2 is more than adequate for a firewall. Anything
additional just clutters up your computer and invaribly causes
problems. Use common sense and SP2.
Click to expand...

I agree. If you don't install the garbage you don't need to block it.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/
 
In
Unknown said:
Windows XP with SP2 is more than adequate for a firewall.
Anything
additional just clutters up your computer ...
Click to expand...


Sorry, but that's nonsense. The Windows firewall works and is far
better than nothing, but it's also probably the worst of all the
choices. Unlike almost all third-party firewalls it doesn't
monitor outgoing traffic and is therefore inferior to them.

... and invaribly causes
problems. Use common sense and SP2.
Click to expand...


I personally use the free version of ZoneAlrm and it has caused
me no problems. I know a great many other people who also use ZA
or one of the other third-party firewalls. None of them have
caused any problems for them either.
 
Why don't you try the free version of Zone Alarm for a couple of weeks and
see if you like it? "Adequate" really depends on what you do with your
computer so there is not a pat answer to your question. You will get many
confilicting opinions so in the end you just have to try the XP firewall and
then a third party firewall and just see what you feel safest with.
 
Unknown said:
Windows XP with SP2 is more than adequate for a firewall. Anything
additional just clutters up your computer and invaribly causes problems.
Use common sense and SP2.
Click to expand...


Please stop posting deliberately harmful advice.

--

Bruce Chambers

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