Need Norton Personal Firewall w/XP Home?

[rdbr]

I understand XP (I have the Home version) has its own firewall. If this is
correct (is it activated automatically?), then is there any need for the
Norton program?
Thanks.

Bob

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I understand XP (I have the Home version) has its own firewall.

Yes. Both XP Professsional and Home has this feature.

If
this is correct (is it activated automatically?),

No. From Windows Help and Support:

"Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then
double-click Network Connections.

Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you
want to protect, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change
settings of this connection.

On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select
the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing
access to this computer from the Internet check box."

then is there any
need for the Norton program?

Although the built-in firewall is OK, it has two important
limitations:

1. It monitors incoming traffic only, and does nothing about
rogue programs trying to call home.

2. It's not very configurable.

For those reasons, I prefer other products on the market, such as
the free version of ZoneAlarm. But run only one firewall, not
two. Running both adds no extra protection, wastes resources, and
subjects you to the risk of conflict between them.

 

[rdbr]

Ken, thanks for your input.

Bob

In


Yes. Both XP Professsional and Home has this feature.




No. From Windows Help and Support:

"Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then
double-click Network Connections.

Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you
want to protect, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change
settings of this connection.

On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select
the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing
access to this computer from the Internet check box."




Although the built-in firewall is OK, it has two important
limitations:

1. It monitors incoming traffic only, and does nothing about
rogue programs trying to call home.

2. It's not very configurable.

For those reasons, I prefer other products on the market, such as
the free version of ZoneAlarm. But run only one firewall, not
two. Running both adds no extra protection, wastes resources, and
subjects you to the risk of conflict between them.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

Ken, thanks for your input.

You're welcome, Bob.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

WinXP's built-in firewall is adequate 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, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better than WinXP's
built-in firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are
free versions of each readily available. Even Symantec's Norton
Personal Firewall is superior by far, although it does take a heavier
toll of system performance then do ZoneAlarm or Sygate.

WinXP's built-in firewall is _not_ enabled by default; SP2 will
correct this. To enable/disable the built-in firewall, Start >
Network Connections > Right-click the connection > Properties >
Advanced > Protect my computer.....

HOW TO Enable or Disable Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q283673

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

 

[Alex Nichol]

I understand XP (I have the Home version) has its own firewall. If this is
correct (is it activated automatically?), then is there any need for the
Norton program?

It is not activated by default. In Network Connections, right click on
the connection you use; Properties, and check the 'Protect my machine. .
..' box in Advanced. There is a possibility of adjusting settings there
- to a limited extent. Third party firewalls are often easier to adjust
and also handle the problem of trojans 'phoning Home' while the inbuilt
one only blocks incoming probes. But there are good free ones available
(eg Zone Alarm free version from www.zonelabs.com) without needing to
spend money on Norton

 

[Gene K]

I understand XP (I have the Home version) has its own firewall. If
this is correct (is it activated automatically?), then is there any
need for the Norton program?
Thanks.

Bob

Keep the Norton! The Windows Firewall is very basic and checks only inbound
stuff allthough the the talk is that Microsoft will upgrade it considerably
in Service Pack 2 (SP2) when that is fielded.

 

[CZ]

Keep the Norton! The Windows Firewall is very basic and checks only
inbound
stuff allthough the talk is that Microsoft will upgrade it considerably
in Service Pack 2 (SP2) when that is fielded.

Gene:

Per my tests with SP2, ICF is still only an inbound control f/w.

The Sygate free f/w is an excellent product.

 

[CZ]

Keep the Norton! The Windows Firewall is very basic and checks only
inbound
stuff although the talk is that Microsoft will upgrade it considerably
in Service Pack 2 (SP2) when that is fielded.

Per my tests with SP2, ICF is still only an inbound control f/w.

Gene:

Apparently my copy of SP2 beta was an early version.

See following for a current preview:
http://www.activewin.com/reviews/previews/xpsp2beta/