Firewall

[Ben]

Greetings --

Wrong again. Just because _you_ apparently haven't bothered to
learn how to use a firewall, don't assume everyone else is a helpless.

Bruce Chambers

Do you mean we have to know all the malwares' names to decide block or
allowed??????????????
No one really wants to spend a lot of time on it....

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

But brother, do you always know what to do(block or allowed) when
Sygate
firewall ask you??

Of course I do. No applications are allowed to be installed upon
or operate on my computer without my knowledge.

It just give the problem back to you.

Being warned (that one has software attempting an unauthorized
connection to the Internet) is **NOT** a problem. It is a warning
that there is a very specific problem to be addressed.

It can detect an outbound signal, but it can not help you to deal
with it.

Of course not. No software can, or should, act as a substitute
for human intelligence and simple common sense.

I don't think most of us have that kind of ability...........

Then you should not be using a computer connected to the Internet.


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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Do you mean we have to know all the malwares' names to decide block
or
allowed??????????????
No one really wants to spend a lot of time on it....

It's not necessary to know the names of all malware applications
(Although it would be awfully hard for anyone to be completely
unfamiliar with most, given the widespread mass media publicity each
new exploit receives. One would have to have been living in a cave
for the past several years not to have been aware of the threat.), but
every computer user _should_ know exactly which application he/she has
installed on his/her own computer, and which of those will need
Internet access. Thus, when an unfamiliar program is suddenly
identified by the firewall as trying to send data out the user
immediately knows that he/she has a security breach.

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/

If you want to use a computer, then it's _your_ responsibility to
learn to do so safely. If that's too much effort for you, unplug the
computer from the Internet.


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

 

[SkowJet]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1621790,00.asp

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1621793,00.asp

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1621791,00.asp

http://www.netgear.com/products/routers/firewallvpn.php

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?
product_code=313546&pfp=compare

 

[Ben]

Greetings --




Of course I do. No applications are allowed to be installed upon
or operate on my computer without my knowledge.




Being warned (that one has software attempting an unauthorized
connection to the Internet) is **NOT** a problem. It is a warning
that there is a very specific problem to be addressed.





Of course not. No software can, or should, act as a substitute
for human intelligence and simple common sense.




Then you should not be using a computer connected to the Internet.


Bruce Chambers

Here is a question, what is the purpose to buy a computer??
If your answer is for fun, or your interest, that's good, you can go on
to study it.
But most of the users, they are USING computers, for a couple of purposes.
In this case, people may not want to be bothered.
And in another hand, if you are not professional, it is impossible to
know all the files on your computer.
Whatever, there is more than one gigabytes of space is full of files.
Ofcourse, they are not all executive files, but I wonder one can
understand them well.
In the third hand, I referred before, some spywares rename itself to
pretend they are good.
If there is not an automative tool, how can you find it?????
I know human intelligence is important, but people are different,
everyone has his bussiness to do.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Is it better to use the new Windows Firewall or a thrid
party one such as ZoneAlarm, Keiro, Sygate, etc...

The Windows one is to provide a basic service against incoming probes.
The other firewalls go that and deal with outgoing 'phone home' as well,
and are often easier to configure to your needs. If you already have
one, keep it and disable the windows one

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

None of those router reviews, that I can see, claimed that the
devices dynamically detected/monitored unauthorized outbound traffic.
They would be useless against a previously unknown exploit.

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

A computer is primarily a tool. Anyone who uses a tool, whether
it's a hammer, screwdriver, or a computer, to perform his/her job
cannot possibly be good at his/her duties without first knowing how to
properly and safely use his/her tool(s). Depending upon a computer
for one's livelihood, while deliberately remaining ignorant of its
proper and safe operation, is like a carpenter or mechanic who refuses
to learn to safely maintain and operate his power tools: a danger to
himself and others.



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