How check if Firewall working OK?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve007
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Steve007

Windows XP Home's Firewall does not seem to allow user to
control program access to the internet etc.. I don't know
which IP address's ar esafe / unsafe or which IP addresses
I need access to or don't.
Maybe some advice that I got was right: don't bother with
MS Firewall because so difficult to use that security is
doubtful. Better to use Zone Alarm Pro. (Advice NOT from
Zone Alarm!)

Windows XP home edition.
Competent user.

Thanks.
 
The built-in XP firewall does not provide the ability to
control outbound connections, only incoming ones.
Part of the reason for this is that most people would not
know what to allow to go out and what not, nor to where
it should or should not be allowed. Another reason is that
constant popups about outbound activity with cryptic info
as to what is trying to go out is counterproductive for most
non/semi-technical users.

There are any number of websites with will scan your
system from outside for you and provide a report.
Normally, if one uses common sense then not having the
ability to configure outbound activity is not a security risk,
unless or until bad practices have allowed malware to be
installed within the system.
 
I run the built in XP firewall parallel with the free ZA. For me Symantec's
and Sygate's free scans seems to provide good insight to my security or the
lack of it. But first a Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer\MBSA.exe run
is a must. Make tests with switching the firewalls off and on one after the
other. You will see the difference in ports' security. Even with both
firewalls active some ports remain open, unfortunately. Do not forget to
configure the firewalls!

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp?j=1&langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=MFOILSIVFWMFKPXKBQW

http://scan.sygate.com/
 
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