Firewalls

[JustMee]

Okay, I admit it, I am completely confused about firewalls.. People
start talking about "stateless" versus "stateful", or "packets", or
"run only one firewall" versus "run 2 firewalls" and I quickly get
very confused... I am far from stupid, but I find this whole thing
very confusing.. Does one have to purchase a firewall to get really
adequate protection, or will a free firewall work?

Finally, If one needs to purchase a firewall, which one is really the
best, and the most user-friendly to set up and use?


confused here,

JM

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

Okay, I admit it, I am completely confused about firewalls.. People
start talking about "stateless" versus "stateful", or "packets", or
"run only one firewall" versus "run 2 firewalls" and I quickly get
very confused... I am far from stupid, but I find this whole thing
very confusing.. Does one have to purchase a firewall to get really
adequate protection, or will a free firewall work?

1. The Windows XP firewall is sufficient if you are careful when
working with your computer (running a background virus scanner, etc.),
so that no malware can get on your system.
2. You can use free or commercial third-party firewalls as well. Good
free applications are Kerio Personal Firewall (http://www.kerio.com)
and ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com). Running more than one firewall at a
time may cause problems.
3. To test your current protection level, visit
http://grc.com/default.htm.

 

[Abel]

A firewall inspects packets passing through it and
rejects the ones that do not meet certain criteria.
XP's firewall is good enough for me. In fact it will be
even better when Service Pack 2 comes out hopefully
within the next 2-3 months.
But if you are going to buy one, Zone Alarm Pro is good.
Try the link below:
http://www.ezsecure.net/zonealarm.html?OVRAW=zone%
20alarm&OVKEY=zone%20alarm&OVMTC=standard

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

"XP's firewall is good enough for me"

I'm glad you think so, even though it is not.

So, now you open an e-mail or visit a rogue website (no one knows which they
are - that's why they are called rogues) and obtain a "drive by" download
that you are not even aware of. Now your computer is taken over by the
installed trojan/worm and starts sending out your personal information
(because you don't have a firewall that blocks OUTBOUND connects) and tries
to find other computers that are unprotected or not properly protected.
These computers are likewise infected, through your computer (gee - you're
such a nice guy)!

And the problem escalates and thousands are infected, just because you
didn't have a "good" firewall, only one that is just barely sufficient!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Abel]

I'm sorry but you sound like you're speaking from
experience. You see, there is this nice program called
Antivirus. I use Norton 2004 version. This along with
Ad-aware has kept my system clean and free from attacks.
I use DSL so I'm always connected. Or maybe I am just
lucky? Not!

 

[rgeorge]

hi ya,

do you really think that your system is safe? i dont think you would know if
your system was compromised of not.

i personally use xp firewall and i hope it is enough, but i really know i
should be doing more.

i think the only real way to know if your system can be compromised is to
get a professional hacker to break into your system.

reece

 

[Abel]

You are right. XP's firewall is not all that great, Zone
Alarm is much better. XP's will protect against common
attacks. But also remember that there is no such thing as
being 100% protected. There is always a way in.

 

[Unknown]

Nothing at all wrong with XP's firewall. Just keep your system updated via
Microsoft and you won't have problems.

 

[MS]

Crusty;

"Crusty (-: Old B@stard "

"XP's firewall is good enough for me"

I'm glad you think so, even though it is not.

YOUR opinion does not create fact, and YOUR opinion is just
that; an opinion, and was given in darkness and ignorance.
You do not have sufficient information from the post to make
such statements. You went off half cocked and shot your wad
of prejudice all over the place, Yuk!

So, now you open an e-mail or visit a rogue website (no one knows which they
are - that's why they are called rogues) and obtain a "drive by" download
that you are not even aware of. Now your computer is taken over by the
installed trojan/worm and starts sending out your personal information
(because you don't have a firewall that blocks OUTBOUND connects) and tries
to find other computers that are unprotected or not properly protected.
These computers are likewise infected, through your computer (gee - you're
such a nice guy)!

Yes, that is one possible scenario. It's also possible that
for the OP, that scenario is about as accurate as the odors
from a pile of dog feces. You again blindly show your
prejudice to the community at large.

And the problem escalates and thousands are infected, just because you
didn't have a "good" firewall, only one that is just

barely sufficient!

Again, spoken in ignorance and with prejudice. Besides
having missed the classes on inerpersonal skills, you
display a surprising ignorance of the real world.
This is completely contrary to the tone of your entire post:
Now you've added inconsistency to the list.

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

Now, that one might fit. Not in the parental sense, but in
the sense of depravity.


Logical comments from OP removed to prevent glaring
comparisons and unnecessary humiliation.

Without much regard for Crusty the Old Bast@rd,

Pop

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

My comments stand. Without blocking outbound, which ICF doesn't do (prove to
me that it does), you may well be infecting hundreds - thousands - of other
computers.

This is a known fact, but apparently not by you!



--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard