Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)

[Johnny R.]

I just purchased Windows XP Home Edition, and have two
questions:

1) I noticed XP has ICF, so is it necessary to purchase
another internet protection software such as Norton
Firewall Protection, or Norton Internet Security?

2) I've heard XP has new and improved system performance
and maintenance tools, so is it necessary to purchase
additional system utility software, such as Norton
Utilities, or System Works?

Thanks for your insight...

Johnny R.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

WinXP's built-in firewall is fine at stopping incoming attacks, and
hiding your ports from probes. It doesn't give you any alarms to tell
you that it is working, though. What WinXP also does not do, is
protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you might download and
install inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all,
much less block (or at least ask you about) the bad or the
questionable out-going packets.

ZoneAlarm or Sygate are much better, and there are a free versions
available. Personally, I've been very happy with Symantec's Norton
Internet Security 2002 (NIS 2003 is now available), which includes
Norton AntiVirus, Norton Personal Firewall, parental controls, privacy
controls, and ad blocking. (Just the elimination of most pop-up ads
on the Internet made the price worth-while to me.)

You can compare several firewall solutions, some of them free,
here:

The DSL Zone Your Broadband Solution Source
http://thedslzone.com/Software.html

I've never found any need for Norton Utilities or SystemWorks on
Win2K or WinXP machines.

Bruce Chambers

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