XP firewall

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve
  • Start date Start date
S

Steve

I just cleared the msblaster worm. I read where the
firewall is not 'on' when you get XP, it has to turned
on. I also heard there are reasons not to install a
firewall but have no clue about the plus's or minus's of
the Windows firewall. I've got a cable modem and would
like to better protect myself. I would be grateful for
any insights offered.
Thanks
Steve
 
Steve I'd most definitely recommend a firewall. I happen to use Norton but
there are also free ones. I probably get a hit at least once a day.
Dannie
 
Steve,
I'd recommend Zone Alarm to anybody.
It's free for personal use ( www.zonelabs.com ), it has an easy to use
interface,
and an online port scanning check will show that it works well.
Chek
 
Greetings --

The only valid reason I can think to _not_ use a firewall would be
if one is deliberately "collecting" and studying viruses, spam, and
other such intrusions.

WinXP's built-in firewall is fine at stopping incoming attacks, and
hiding all of your ports from probes. It doesn't give you any alarms
to tell you that it is working, though. What WinXP also does not do,
is protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you might download and
install inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all,
much less block (or at least ask you about) the bad or the
questionable out-going packets.

To enable the built-in firewall, Start > Network Connections >
Right-click the connection > Properties > Advanced > Protect my
computer.....

ZoneAlarm or Sygate are much better, and there are a free versions
available. Personally, I've been very happy with Symantec's Norton
Internet Security 2002 (NIS 2004 is now available), which includes
Norton AntiVirus, Norton Personal Firewall, parental controls, privacy
controls, and ad blocking. (Just the elimination of many of the
pop-up ads on the Internet made the price worth-while to me.)


Bruce Chambers

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