Getting rid of Sygate firewall in msconfig boot tab

[Guest]

I installed a trial version of Lavasoft Personal Firewall and turned
off Windows firewall and uninstalled Sygate firewall. (smc.exe) But
smc still shows up in the Msconfig Startup tab. When I uncheck smc on
the Startup tab, Msconfig starts each time I reboot the computer --
unless I select "normal startup" in the general tab, which in turn
rechecks smc. How can I get completely rid of smc?

Stan Hilliard

did the uninstall process go through without any errors? that process
is staying alive because another process is starting on windows
startup then re-enabling it, I would recommend re-installing sygate.
reboot. uninstall (properly). reboot. and check again.

Flamer.

 

[Guest]

There is a checkbox in the message from Msconfig on boot. Tick it.

 

[Stan Hilliard]

I installed a trial version of Lavasoft Personal Firewall and turned
off Windows firewall and uninstalled Sygate firewall. (smc.exe) But
smc still shows up in the Msconfig Startup tab. When I uncheck smc on
the Startup tab, Msconfig starts each time I reboot the computer --
unless I select "normal startup" in the general tab, which in turn
rechecks smc. How can I get completely rid of smc?

Stan Hilliard

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

One or more options/settings in an ever-growing number of third-party
applications may be disallowing the changes from "sticking." These include
anti-spyware applications (e.g., Ad-aware's Ad-Watch, Spybot Tea Timer,
SpywareBlaster, SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor, CounterSpy, WinPatrol, etc),
anti-virus applications & security suites (Norton, McAfee, ESET/NOD32,
Kasperky, Trend Micro, etc.), and third-party firewalls (e.g., Zone Alarm,
etc.).

Note that temporarily disabling the application(s) or rebooting into Safe
Mode may not disable the application's system protections.

 

[Kayman]

I installed a trial version of Lavasoft Personal Firewall and turned
off Windows firewall and uninstalled Sygate firewall. (smc.exe) But
smc still shows up in the Msconfig Startup tab. When I uncheck smc on
the Startup tab, Msconfig starts each time I reboot the computer --
unless I select "normal startup" in the general tab, which in turn
rechecks smc. How can I get completely rid of smc?

I'd uninstall both Lavasoft f/w and Sygate f/w using either Add or Remove
Programs or Revo Uninstaller http://www.revouninstaller.com/ and
re-activate the build-in f/w application.

For the average homeuser, the Windows Firewall in XP does a fantastic job
at its core mission and is really all you need if you have an 'real-time'
anti-virus program, [another firewall on your router or] other edge
protection like SeconfigXP and practise Safe-Hex.
The windows firewall deals with inbound protection and therefore does not
give you a false sense of security. Best of all, it doesn't implement lots
of nonsense like pretending that outbound traffic needs to be monitored.

Activate and utilize the Win XP built-in Firewall; Uncheck *all* Programs
and Services under the Exception tab (re-check frequently).

Windows XP: How to turn on your firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/firewall/xp.mspx

Read through:
Understanding Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

At Least This Snake Oil Is Free.
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2007/07/19/at-least-this-snake-oil-is-free.aspx

Deconstructing Common Security Myths.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2006/05/SecurityMyths/default.aspx
Scroll down to:
"Myth: Host-Based Firewalls Must Filter Outbound Traffic to be Safe."

Exploring the windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/06/VistaFirewall/default.aspx
"Outbound protection is security theater¡Xit¡¦s a gimmick that only gives the
impression of improving your security without doing anything that actually
does improve your security."

In conjunction with WinXP SP2 Firewall use:
Seconfig XP 1.0
http://seconfig.sytes.net/
(http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Seconfig-XP-Download-39707.html)
Seconfig XP is able configure Windows not to use TCP/IP as transport
protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving TCP/UDP ports 135, 137-139
and 445 (the most exploited Windows networking weak point) closed.

If on high-speed Internet connection use a Router and implement
Countermeasures against DNSChanger.
http://extremesecurity.blogspot.com/2008/06/use-default-password-get-hijacked.html

Routinely practice Safe-Hex.
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
Hundreds Click on 'Click Here to Get Infected' Ad
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2132447,00.asp

Good luck

 

[Stan Hilliard]

did the uninstall process go through without any errors? that process
is staying alive because another process is starting on windows
startup then re-enabling it, I would recommend re-installing sygate.
reboot. uninstall (properly). reboot. and check again.

Flamer.

Thanks. I got rid of smc.exe in the Startup tab by:

1) turning off Lavasoft Firewall
2) reinstalling Sygate firewall
3) uninstalling Sygate Firewall
4) restarting Lavasoft Firewall

Stan Hilliard

 

[Stan Hilliard]

Thanks. I will study those links.

Stan Hilliard