Re: Firewall on XP Home Edition

From: Bruce Chambers (bchambers_at_nospamcableone.net)
Date: 02/11/04 

Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 20:12:21 -0700

Greetings --

   WinXP's built-in firewall is fine at stopping incoming attacks, and
hiding 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.

    ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better, and are much more
easily configured, and there are a free versions of each readily
available. Even Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall is superior by
far, although it does take a heavier toll of performance then do
ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate. It's been several years since I've been
tempted to try McAfee products. Their quality seemed to take a steep
nose-dive after they were acquired by Network Associates.

Bruce Chambers 

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"John Gregory" <jaygreg90@hotmail.com> wrote in message 
news:O4hDDmx7DHA.1948@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> My machine came with McAffee's virus scan and firewall. I activated 
> only the
> virus scan software, however, because I was told XP has its own 
> firewall. I
> checked under network connections and found that whatever firewall 
> XP comes
> with, isn't active. This discovery lead to a second issue I'll 
> explain last.
>
> While seeking McAffee's advise on their virus scan we discussed the
> advantages of installing his firewall. According to him, the XP 
> version is
> actually "a watered down version" of McAffee's... provided by 
> McAffee.
>
> Q1) Is this true; is the XP Home Edition firewall a mini version of
> McAffee's firewall?
> Q2) Would you recommend installing McAffee's firewall rather than 
> the one XP
> already in the software?
>
> Now about that second issue; I found TWO icons in my Network 
> Connections
> folder. One is named Local Area Connection, is enabled, and 
> identifies what
> looks like the modem card (Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network 
> ConnectionIntel(R)
> PRO/100 VE Network Connection).
>
> The second, however, is labled "1394 Connection", is enabled, and 
> appears to
> be some sort of adapter ("1394 net adapter"). Unlike the first, it 
> shows no
> activity. I've seen it a few times overthe past three months I've 
> had this
> machine and it always reports no activity. The firewall for this 
> thing is
> also inactive (as is the first).
>
> Q3) What the heck is this?
> Q4) Why is it displayed if there's no activity?
> Q5) How'd it get here if it's not suppossed to be here?
> Q6) How do I get rid of it?
> Q7) Is this some sort of "back door" to my comoputer that needs to 
> be
> protected or closed?
>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Need Norton Personal Firewall w/XP Home?
    ... > double-click Network Connections. ... > settings of this connection. ... > On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select ... > the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Still cant connect to RWW or OWA remotely
    ... No, I don't have a 3rd party firewall, and it's a pretty plain vanilla WinXP ... Connected to the network like the other workstations, ... I could go to any workstation and connect to them just fine. ... match the broadband connection, the two NIC firewall, the remote ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Workgroup is not accessible.
    ... The only network connection with the ... firewall set was the dial-up connection, ... Even when it accesses the workgroup, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • RE: Serious Security Issue in Windows XP SP2s Firewall
    ... file and printer sharing is available for network login from any network (I ... Internet Connection Sharing of the PC has to be disabled." ... Serious Security Issue in Windows XP SP2's Firewall ...
    (Focus-Microsoft)
  • RE: Lost Internet Connectivity
    ... use network diagnostic tools, i.e. ipconfig, ping, etc. ... Firewall, McAfee Personal Firewall, VS, two-PC network, Motorola modem, ... PCI 10/100 Ethernet Connection. ... Windows Firewall/ICS Service not running, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)