Software firewalls do something that SP2's firewall does not do--block and
filter outbound connections.
When you install Zone alarm windows firewall geyts disabled. You can't have
two firewalls running at the same time.
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"JohnH" wrote:
> How good is windows firewall. I have Zone Alarm free at the moment.
> Thanks
> John
"JohnH" <JohnH@...com> wrote
> How good is windows firewall. I have Zone Alarm free at the moment.
Windows firewall works ok. It doesn't block outbound connections, and it
isn't very configurable for inbound issues. What outbound block does is
stop malware that's on the system from "phoning home", but the better
approach is to not let malware on the system in the first place, and
sophisticated malware can find it's way around outbound blocking. The
latest versions of zone alarm are bloated. You might want to look at Comodo
personal firewall or the free offering of Sunbelt Software's Kerio Personal
firewall as an alternative or just go with the Windows firewall.
"JohnH" <JohnH@...com> wrote in message news:46777a56$1@clear.net.nz...
How good is windows firewall. I have Zone Alarm free at the moment.
Thanks
John
Additionally, if you are on Broadband Internet get a Cable/DSL Router such
as the Linksys BEFSR41. It will help protect against such Pop-Ups, Hackers
and Internet worms. (They are pretty inexpensive nowadays).
On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:25:01 -0700, Rey Santos
<ReySantos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Software firewalls do something that SP2's firewall does not do--block and
> filter outbound connections.
> When you install Zone alarm windows firewall geyts disabled. You can't have
> two firewalls running at the same time.
Actually you can. But you shouldn't.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
JohnH wrote:
>
> How good is windows firewall. I have Zone Alarm free at the moment.
> Thanks
> John
WinXP's built-in firewall is usually adequate at stopping incoming
attacks, and hiding your ports from probes. What WinXP SP2's firewall
does not do, is protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you (or
someone else using your computer) might download and install
inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all, other than
to check for IP-spoofing, much less block (or at even ask you about) the
bad or the questionable out-going signals. It assumes that any
application you have on your hard drive is there because you want it
there, and therefore has your "permission" to access the Internet.
Further, because the Windows Firewall is a "stateful" firewall, it will
also assume that any incoming traffic that's a direct response to a
Trojan's or spyware's out-going signal is also authorized.
ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better than WinXP's
built-in firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are
free versions of each readily available. Even the commercially
available Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall is superior by far,
although it does take a heavier toll of system performance then do
ZoneAlarm or Sygate.
Having said that, it's important to remember that firewalls and
anti-virus applications, which should always be used and should always
be running, while important components of "safe hex," cannot, and should
not be expected to, protect the computer user from him/herself.
Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and every computer user to learn
how to secure his/her own computer.
Kayman wrote:
> "JohnH" <JohnH@...com> wrote in message news:46777a56$1@clear.net.nz...
> How good is windows firewall. I have Zone Alarm free at the moment.
> Thanks
> John
>
> The Windows Firewall in XP SP2 does a fantastic job at its core mission
> and is really all you need if you have a *good* anti-virus program.
What about the varities of malware that anti-virus applications aren't
designed to detect?
>
> IMHO Outbound application filtering as a meassure against malware is an
> illusion. PFW vendors are offering you snake-oil
>
How is being alerted to unauthorized outbound traffic "snake oil?"
"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message
news:uJ6diIusHHA.4888@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Kayman wrote:
>> "JohnH" <JohnH@...com> wrote in message news:46777a56$1@clear.net.nz...
>> How good is windows firewall. I have Zone Alarm free at the moment.
>> Thanks
>> John
>>
>> The Windows Firewall in XP SP2 does a fantastic job at its core mission
>> and is really all you need if you have a *good* anti-virus program.
>
>
> What about the varities of malware that anti-virus applications aren't
> designed to detect?
>
>
>>
>> IMHO Outbound application filtering as a meassure against malware is an
>> illusion. PFW vendors are offering you snake-oil
>>
>
>
> How is being alerted to unauthorized outbound traffic "snake oil?"
>
Not getting infected in the first place. it's called prevention. Works for
me since 8/2004.
windows fire wall 
Linear Mode
