Printable View
It passed the sysgate scans with flying colors.... So i think that you are wrong thinking that the built in firewall is just for newbies and lamers, it seems to do nicely i don´t see any reasons to install more resource demanding software when you already got something that works....
I dont think Wollington meant it was only for newbies and lamers, at least i hope he didnt lol. Let me try to put it in another way though, the biggest threat to you wouldnt be a hacker from the outside breaking IN. The greatest threat is from a trojan already inside your computer and sending information OUT. How can they do this with you having a firewall with very good inbound protection you ask? A couple of popular ways are for someone to bind the trojan with another program and have you download it. Once you run the application you are running the server file of the trojan as well. Another way would be someone who sends you a file that has a hidden extension making it look like a data file when it is actually an exe file. If you had a firewall (even the free ones from zone alarm or sygate) you will be notified when an application or program trys to access the internet. Would you really want a file named Object0000 or server.exe accessing the internet. Or would you really want windows explorer or windows media player accessing the internet. With no outbound protection it is all possible.
But it is nice to know that the XP firewall gives the user pretty good inbound protection. Thanks for the info and testing it :)
Nope I didn't mean it was just meant for newbies and lamers. But it is a more basic firewall than zonealarm and others and although it does what its supposed to (block incoming traffic) I and many others want one to block outgoing traffic too, as well as having more options over it. Microsoft bundled it because of the risk to people with less knowledge, no doubt if it wasn't there you'd be running another firewall, in which case you weren't the target of it but if you like it then thats fine.
And if you've got something that works then there is no point installing more demanding software, but I like the options on zonelarm, I also like its simplicity I have a copy(legal) of Norton firewall but hate it, same with their AV software, can't stand it!
lets see, windows has 500000 security holes in it
i wonder how many holes the firewall has in it...
no thanks...not going to trust my security to a company that knows nothing about security
and of course for any of us running a router setup that shields up test is only going to test the router's IP adress, which pretty much means that you'll be reported as full stealth mode no matter what you're running on your machine :rolleyes:
Well, if you have a router then it probably has a hardware firewall which is the best kind. :)Quote:
Originally posted by thebove
and of course for any of us running a router setup that shields up test is only going to test the router's IP adress, which pretty much means that you'll be reported as full stealth mode no matter what you're running on your machine :rolleyes:
also true, but then again, everyone recommends that a router firewall alone isn't good enough protection....i'll take my chances i guessQuote:
Originally posted by johndoe23
Well, if you have a router then it probably has a hardware firewall which is the best kind. :)
symantec.com has a security check too.........with Zone Alarm (free version) They still can't access my machine.:D
Yes,symantec is preaty good.
I have the Norton Personel Firewall.
Symantec has a webpage were you can let
them test your internetsecurety.
LOL, so true.Quote:
Originally posted by patssle
no thanks...not going to trust my security to a company that knows nothing about security
Stealth all the way! :D
Ok i have installed zone alarm, it seems to be pretty effective it shut down all network communication while it configured itself, i got pretty pissed there for a few minutes, but now when i have got it set up properly it seems to do the job nicely.
Can you elaborate on "everyone"? NAT is a damn good way to block people/programs from getting in. It just sucks at keeping your programs from getting out.Quote:
Originally posted by thebove
-cut- everyone recommends that a router firewall alone isn't good enough protection.... -cut-
i dont have the xp wall turned on because i agree with passtle on that one.....i have the mcaffee turned on filter and it tells me whenever a program tried to access the internet. i had blackice before that but it didnt monitor outgoing traffic.
after reading on grc.com about denial of service attacks and about the whole "remote bot" thing i decided it was time to change firewalls.
i dont really need any of the firewalls at all cause i am behind a hardware firewall, but it neverhurts to have a backup and it really doesnt take any resources at all!
Symantec's test:
Results of Security Risk Scan
Network Vulnerability Scan At Risk!
NetBIOS Availability Scan Safe
Active Trojan Horse Scan At Risk!
ShieldsUp:
Preliminary Internet connection refused!
Unable to connect with NetBIOS to your computer.
Go 56k w/ no firewall.
btw, ms's firewall might not be the best, but I think they included it so that the normal user has something to use, not everyone knows about Zone Alarm or Symantec's firewall (or whatever). Yeah, it might not be effective as the rest but it's bound to do something, more than having nothing.