I've just kicked out Kaspersky firewall + antivirus because of problems
and I was wondering whether to stick to the Windows integrated
firewall from now on.
WinXP's built-in firewall is adequate at stopping incoming attacks,
and hiding your ports from probes. What WinXP SP2's firewall does not
do, is provide an important additional layer of protection by informing
you about any Trojans or spyware that you (or someone else using your
computer) might download and install inadvertently. It doesn't monitor
out-going network 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 Windows
Firewall 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 or Kerio are much better than WinXP's built-in firewall,
in that they do provide that extra layer of protection, are much more
easily configured, and have free versions readily available for
downloading. Even the commercially available Symantec's Norton Personal
Firewall provides superior protection, although it does take a heavier
toll of system performance then do ZoneAlarm or Kerio.
I'm a bit worried because the Kaspersky warned me of "Lovesan attacks"
and "Helkern attacks" within minutes of my connecting to the Internet.
The Windows integrated firewall has yet to warn me of anything and I've
been surfing for nearly an hour already.
Why would you expect a firewall of any kind to warn you about virus
and/or worms? That was a function of Kaspersky'a anti-virus component,
not the firewall.
The windows anti-malaware programm, for instance, is no good in my
opinion: it never detected anything at all on my PC while Spybot now
always detects a few spywares.
There is no "windows anti-malware program." Microsoft does now provide
an anti-adware/anti-spyware product that you can obtain and install, if
you like. But, again, this naturally wouldn't detect or warn you about
any viruses or worms.
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
