Do I need a firewall?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tenplay
  • Start date Start date
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tenplay

I am using SpywareBlaster, Spybot and AdAware with Windows XP, MacAfee
Virus and Mozilla on a standalone PC. Do I need a firewall like
ZoneAlarm? When I installed ZA recently, it stopped some software from
working properly, so I uninstalled it. Thanks for any advice.
 
You can configure a firewall like ZoneAlarm to allow your programs to work.
A firewall is important for all users. It's critical for broadband users.
You really should use ZoneAlarm or a similar program and if you can't
configure ask here or in other newsgroups for help. Those other programs
will find spyware once they're in your system and you run the check.
ZoneAlarm can stop spyware and trojans from ever doing harm. Now you said
stand alone, I'm guessing you mean it's not networked. That doesn't matter,
if it connects to the internet you really should hav a firewall.

Jim W.
http://www.gatorgrad.com
 
Yes, you really do need one. Let me tell you what happened to me within the
last couple of days. I have been getting many probes (as many as 100 an
hour during the hieght of it) on port 445 (incoming not outgoing). This is
not ordinary background noise that some firewalls pick up. Port 445 is well
known for DOS attacks (Denial of Service). I'm speculating here, but I
think my ISP blocks port 445 from other networks, but not from their own.
I'm thinking this because the source DNS is always from my ISP (some the
same IP address but mostly different, but still resolves to Earthlink). I
don't rely on ISP's or Firewalls to block port 445, as I have blocked it
myself. I also have the patch from Microsoft that deals with this issue.
Had I not had a firewall, with the amount of probes I was recieving, I would
more than likely have suffered a DOS attack. Traffic has slowed down to
only 1 or 2 an hour, so there must have been a jump in activity over the
last couple days.

If ZoneAlarm caused programs not to work correctly, maybe there is a good
reason why. What are the names of these programs? Virus scanners and the
such can only catch the stuff after it has been put on your computer.
Firewalls prevent it from getting there in the first place (granted you
don't click on attactments or download malicous software).
 
I am using SpywareBlaster, Spybot and AdAware with Windows XP, MacAfee
Virus and Mozilla on a standalone PC. Do I need a firewall like
ZoneAlarm? When I installed ZA recently, it stopped some software from
working properly, so I uninstalled it. Thanks for any advice.
Click to expand...

The latest version of ZA, version 5.1, has some glitches. Version
5.0.590.043 operates flawlessly for me and solved all program
incompatibilities.

I would advise "downgrading." You won't lose any functionality and
will have all the protection you need. Whether or not you want to
leave XP's firewall enabled is largely up to you. I've found the two
play well together, but you can easily disable it from the security
center.
 
Zippy,

I could not close my port 445/135 even with the registry tweaks and
settings. I tried them all. However, this program will. Windows worm
door clean (Wwdc.exe). It won’t work on windows 98se, windows me



Yes, you really do need one. Let me tell you what happened to me within the
last couple of days. I have been getting many probes (as many as 100 an
hour during the hieght of it) on port 445 (incoming not outgoing). This is
not ordinary background noise that some firewalls pick up. Port 445 is well
known for DOS attacks (Denial of Service). I'm speculating here, but I
think my ISP blocks port 445 from other networks, but not from their own.
I'm thinking this because the source DNS is always from my ISP (some the
same IP address but mostly different, but still resolves to Earthlink). I
don't rely on ISP's or Firewalls to block port 445, as I have blocked it
myself. I also have the patch from Microsoft that deals with this issue.
Had I not had a firewall, with the amount of probes I was recieving, I would
more than likely have suffered a DOS attack. Traffic has slowed down to
only 1 or 2 an hour, so there must have been a jump in activity over the
last couple days.

If ZoneAlarm caused programs not to work correctly, maybe there is a good
reason why. What are the names of these programs? Virus scanners and the
such can only catch the stuff after it has been put on your computer.
Firewalls prevent it from getting there in the first place (granted you
don't click on attactments or download malicous software).
Click to expand...
Greg R







http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/
 
Cyrus said:
The latest version of ZA, version 5.1, has some glitches. Version
5.0.590.043 operates flawlessly for me and solved all program
incompatibilities.

I would advise "downgrading." You won't lose any functionality and
will have all the protection you need. Whether or not you want to
leave XP's firewall enabled is largely up to you. I've found the two
play well together, but you can easily disable it from the security
center.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the helpful responses. I just received a new PC from my
company. Should I assume that they installed XP's firewall? How do I
check to see if it is working? Should I install an additional firewall
like Zone Alarm or is the XP firewall enough protection?
 
Did you download Microsoft's Security Bulletin MS03-026 that deals with this
buffer overrun? And have a firewall up and running? If so, that port
should be stealthed. Go to www.grc.com and test your ports. All my ports
are stealthed so all these probes that I got didn't get no answer back from
my computer.
 
I personally do not believe XP firewall is enough protection. It does not
block outgoing traffic. If you had a trojan horse on your computer XP's
firewall would allow it to phone home.
 
Zippy,

My ports were stealthed. My netstat showed port 135 Listening.

Greg R

Did you download Microsoft's Security Bulletin MS03-026 that deals with this
buffer overrun? And have a firewall up and running? If so, that port
should be stealthed. Go to www.grc.com and test your ports. All my ports
are stealthed so all these probes that I got didn't get no answer back from
my computer.
Click to expand...

http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/
 
I recommend shutting off the Windows Firewall and installing a different
firewall. I like ZoneAlarm the best but there are others like Sygate
Personal Firewall. They are much better than the Windows Firewall because
they offer bidirectional protection. The Windows one does not. Don't risk
losing data and security, install a better firewall!

Jim W.
http://www.gatorgrad.com
 

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