Thank you, Rock!
a few things that you've said have shaken me. please see my intercalated
comments and questions:
--
--Fool On The Hill
Rock said:
Vista comes with a firewall. OneCare also comes with it's own version of
a firewall with different capabilities. If using OneCare use that
firewall. Only one firewall should be active at a time. I believe OneCare
turns of the built in firewall but I'm not sure about that.
no, it does not automatically shut off the built-in firewall. that was the
very issue that caused the 2 ms techs to easy assist my computer for nearly
4 hours - to cause onecare to cease recognizing the built-in. (the onecare
icon, in the notification tray, obstinately held its glowing red color)
For questions about OneCare it's best to post to one of the specific
forums for it.
http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsOneCare/default.aspx?ForumGroupID=28&SiteID=2
thank you for these leads
They are apples and oranges. The firewall doesn't detect malware, it
monitors connections from the internt to your system. Defender is an
anti-spyware app, that is active in memory. It does not deal with viral
malware so an AV program is still needed. OneCare has it's own version of
Defender.
********************************************************************************
WHOA!!!!
ARE YOU SAYING THAT ALL THIS TIME I'VE BEEN SURFING WITHOUT AV
PROTECTION?!!!
********************************************************************************
jeez!! thank you again, Rock!
iou.
what can you say about my problem with onecare's firewall unceremoniously,
and without announcement, ceasing to function -- and I have no way to do
anything about it? I will visit the link you just offered and ask in that
forum, but I just wondered what thoughts you might have about it.
Yes you need to install an anti-virus. Vista does not have one. I
recommend either Avast (free), or NOD32 (paid). Some folks also like AVG
(free).
spywarewarrior highly recommends SPYWARE DOCTOR, and yet no one here, or in
most other forums, even mentions it. why?
For anti-spyware, you should have a combination of programs, with one
active in memory. Defender is fine for this. Use the others to do an
occasional scan. The ones I suggest are Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot S&D,
and Spyware Blaster (this is not a scanner, but is helpful to stop malware
from getting installed).
you are saying that defender should be the tsr of choice, adaware se
personal should be used only for scans on demand, and spybot s&d should be
used only for scans on demand. did I understand you?
but I don't understand the niche for spyware blaster: it is not a scanner,
and it can't be used as a tsr because it will conflict with defender. so,
how do I use it?
Do not use a registry cleaner. There is no need for it. Any issues with
the registry should be handled with knowledge and direct editing of the
particular setting. I know OneCare has a registry cleaner, but I would
recommend agains using any registry cleaner. They cause more problems
than they fix.
I know this a stupid newbie question, but I, qua newbie, need this query
answered: if a registry cleaner causes serious problems then why does ms use
it? and how do I acquire the skill to housekeep the registry?
Disk cleanup is just the process of deleting temp files and other files
that have accumulated over time, but are not needed. Vista has a cleanup
feature. Double click on Computer, right click on a drive, choose
properties then Disk Cleanup. OneCare has a cleanup function as well. A
3rd party app that's good for removing a variety of temp files is
CCleaner. I would recommned, though, not to use the registry cleaning
features in this program.
your advice is being taken to heart!
If OneCare is removed the widows firewall will run just fine.
you re saying that if I uninstall onecare, then the built-in firewall will
automatically reactivate? I harbor doubts!: I think those 2 ms techs
zombified the vista built-in; a vodoun-like ceremony will be necessary to
bring it back to life.
You mean security packages such as those from Symantec, McAfee, etc. They
come with a firewall, AV, anti-spyware and a host of other features. Yes,
I agree, these tend to be resource heavy, and can be problematic. I
recommend not using any of the large security suites. There is no need
for a 3rd party firewall. Vista's firewall or the one in OneCare is fine.
ms is difficult to get hold of to query how to resolve the onecare firewall
problem (it ceases without warning, and I have no idea how to activate it.)
perhaps when I uninstall onecare, and revert to the vista built-in firewall,
the problem will be resolved. but if I can't get ms to help me to resurrect
the built-in, what options do you recommend?.
On this system, Vista Ultimate, I use the built in firewall, Avast
Anti-Virus (free), Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot S&D, and Spyware Blaster.
All are light on resources and on this system, problem free.
doesn't this list include at least 2 av's, and/or >= 2 antispywares? it was
my understanding that running 2 av's simultaneously, or 2 antispywares
simultaneously, will cause major problems (although, I've read that some
people have done it for years without problems - they say)
I also use a router between the cable modem and the computer. It has NAT
(Network Address Translation) and SPI (Stateful packet inspection). Home
routers are inexpensive, in the $50-60 range. It is not a firewall, but
it functions as a first line of defense against intrusions from the
internet.
recommend a router, please.
my isp has furnished a bridge (router+modem, as i understood customer
service). should i return the bridge, or can i integrate a separate router
along the line?
The most important part of safe computing is the operator using common
sense.
I will read the following 2 links, but I can tell you from experience that
"common sense" is the very target of the malevolents: they found a way
around that a long time ago. call me a conspiratorial fanatic, but I believe
the government does nothing about this, for the same reason they do nothing
about identity theft: they benefit from it!
Rock, many thanks!
let me ask you for one more piece of information. do you know of a vis-a-vis
community, or a colleague, in new york city?
