Greetings --
Given today's widely-publicized and well-known hostile Internet
environment, only a fool or a masochist would go on-line without both
a firewall and antivirus protection. People really shouldn't need to
be told to use a firewall, no more than they should need to be told
not to stick their hands into an open flame.
A properly configured firewall will go a long ways to safeguarding
your computer and data, and it will prevent your PC from being
infected by W32.Blaster.Worm, which attacks the RPC vulnerability of
unpatched machines. However, a firewall is not a cure-all or panacea;
it's only one component of a computer security model.
There are several essential components to computer security: a
knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.
The weak link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer user.
No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected to --
protect the computer user from him/herself.
To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:
Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
List of Antivirus Software Vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500
Home PC Firewall Guide
http://www.firewallguide.com/
Scumware.com
http://www.scumware.com/
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH