Re: General SP2 question

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 08/20/04 

Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 09:34:26 -0600

Greetings --

   WinXP's built-in firewall is _adequate_ at stopping incoming
attacks, and hiding your ports from probes. What WinXP also
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 ICF 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.

Bruce Chambers 

-- 
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on 
having both at once. - RAH
"Retired" <Retired@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:29A6ED10-0716-4A17-9793-4AC2DEB31FDF@microsoft.com...
> Once SP2 is installed, will it be necessary to still have a third 
> party (Zone
> Alarm, Norton, etc) firewall and if so, will it be necessary to 
> disable the
> XP firewall?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Symantec vs. McAfee
    ... I use Norton Personal Firewall 2005, I wouldn't dare use any other ... a reformat and fresh install of Win2k and then image it immediately. ... Then I'd also install all but the firewall and AV, ...
    (alt.computer.security)
  • Re: Fire wall
    ... > installing another firewall but with just the window SP2 firewall? ... NAT-capable routers do nothing to protect the user from him/herself ... else using your computer) might download and install inadvertently. ... questionable out-going signals. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: XP Fire wall
    ... alarms, or any other kind of indication, to tell you that it is ... about) the bad or the questionable out-going signals. ... Further, because the ICF is a "stateful" firewall, it will also assume ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: XP Firewall Enough?
    ... alarms to tell you that it is working, ... out-going signals. ... built-in firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are ... toll of system performance then do ZoneAlarm or Sygate. ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • Re: firewall
    ... alarms, or any other kind of indication, to tell you that it is ... someone else using your computer) might download and install ... about) the bad or the questionable out-going signals. ... Further, because the ICF is a "stateful" firewall, it will also assume ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)