Re: Question re Malware
From: John Doue (notwobe_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 11/14/04
- Next message: David H. Lipman: "Re: Multiple copies of WUAUCLT.EXE files"
- Previous message: JohnM: "Re: Multiple copies of WUAUCLT.EXE files"
- In reply to: Bruce Chambers: "Re: Question re Malware"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ]
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 11:44:41 -0500
Bruce Chambers wrote:
> Yes, it can.
>
> If you use a router with NAT, it's still a very good idea to use a
> 3rd party software firewall. Like WinXP's built-in firewall,
> NAT-capable routers do _nothing_ to protect the user from him/herself
> (or any "curious," over-confident teenagers in the home). Again --
> and I cannot emphasize this enough -- almost all spyware and many
> Trojans and worms are downloaded and installed deliberately (albeit
> without understanding the consequences) by the user. So a software
> firewall, such as Sygate or ZoneAlarm, that can detect and warn the
> user of unauthorized out-going traffic is an important element of
> protecting one's privacy and security. (Remember: Most antivirus
> applications do not even scan for or protect you from adware/spyware,
> because, after all, you've installed them yourself, so you must want
> them there, right?)
>
> I use both a router with NAT and Sygate Personal Firewall, even
> though I generally know better than to install scumware. When it
> comes to computer security and protecting my privacy, I prefer the old
> "belt and suspenders" approach. In the professional IT community,
> this is also known as a "layered defense." Basically, it comes down
> to never, ever "putting all of your eggs in one basket."
>
>
Could not agree more with what you said. It is indispensible to have a
firewall prevent any outgoing unauthorized traffic. Furthermore, I want
to control the way some programs access the Internet. Some MS programs,
among others, like to access the Internet. Most often, they offer an
option to disable that access but the corresponding setting is often
less than obvious to find.
Basically, I want to control what my machine does and its communications
with the outside world. Therefore, on ZA, I use the "ask" setting for
programs that may have a - more or less - valid reason to access the
Internet. Remember, if you let a program access the Internet, it does
mean also that you let your machine download information. Communicating
with the Internet cannot be a one way street.
-- John Doue
- Next message: David H. Lipman: "Re: Multiple copies of WUAUCLT.EXE files"
- Previous message: JohnM: "Re: Multiple copies of WUAUCLT.EXE files"
- In reply to: Bruce Chambers: "Re: Question re Malware"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ]
Relevant Pages
|
