Sasser virus

[Popodopolus]

We are senior citizens and received new notebook with
WinXP. We looked in the Add/Remove programs (Control
Panel) and notice a file "XP Hot Fix KB835732"
Does that mean that we are protected (as well as can be
expected from this Sasser virus/worm? We also have update
Norton Anti Virus running.
Are we fairly safe? Pleae advise as we are quite nervous
that we might lose the use of our newly received notebook.
Thank you for any help.
Alice


(We are using AOL9, which does not allow us to use MS
firewall.)

 

[Guest]

Enable a Firewall
A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that
creates a protective barrier between your computer and
the Internet. If your computer has been infected, a
firewall will help limit the effects of the worm. Windows
XP includes the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). To
turn on ICF:

On the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, click Start,
and then click Control Panel.
Click the Network and Internet Connections category.
(If the Network and Internet Connections is not visible,
click Switch to Category View under Control Panel on the
left side of the Control Panel window.)
Click Network Connections.
Right-click the Dial-up, LAN, or High-Speed Internet
connection that you use to connect to the Internet, and
then click Properties from the shortcut menu.
On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall,
select Protect my computer and network, and then click
OK. The Windows XP firewall is now enabled.
Step 6: Reconnect to the Internet
Plug the cable (referred to in Step 1) back into your
computer, telephone jack, or modem.

 

[Popodopolus]

AOL does not permit any firewall. If we go to the page you
stated, the firewall setup is 'grayed - out.' We have been
told by several people that AOL will not allow the MS
firewall to be enabled (in WinXP).

 

[Shenan Stanley]

AOL does not permit any firewall. If we go to the page you
stated, the firewall setup is 'grayed - out.' We have been
told by several people that AOL will not allow the MS
firewall to be enabled (in WinXP).

Interesting. 9.0 still does not allow the Windows XP ICF to run, eh?

Anyway - the patch you listed IS the one you needed. Make sure by going to:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Scan for updates and install the Critical ones!


In return for that tidbit:

Windows XP ICF is not the only firewall in existence/free/cheap. There are
better alternatives:

ZoneAlarm (FREE and up)
Basic PC protection for the home user
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

Windows XP ICF (comes with Windows XP)
got windows xp? - you have this one if you do
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/using/howto/networking/icf.asp

Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (FREE and up)
builds a barrier between your personal computer and the Internet
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (FREE and up)
basic protection solution for casual web surfers and low budget systems
http://www.agnitum.com/download/

Sygate Personal Firewall (FREE and up)
the most user-friendly PC firewall and personal desktop security solution
http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm

Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up)
keeps hackers out and personal data in
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/

BlackICE PC Protection ($39.95 and up)
intrusion detection system and a personal firewall for a one-two punch of
protection
http://blackice.iss.net/

Tiny Personal Firewall (~$49.00 and up)
turn your pc into the fortress
http://www.tinysoftware.com/

That should get you started! One of them is bound to work around AOL's
limitations.

I could have sworn the last version of AOL fixed that issue.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

If you're using AOL, you'll either need to find a 3rd party
firewall that is compatible with AOL, or switch to a real ISP that is
compatible with the real Internet. This is because AOL is an on-line
content provider that ignores international Internetworking standards
in favor of its own proprietary products, and has deliberately made
its connection software incompatible with both WinXP's built-in
firewall and WinXP's Internet Connection Sharing feature. AOL's
proprietary connection applet is deliberately designed to preclude
your setting/adjusting any of its properties, to include
enabling/disabling WinXP's ICF and ICS.

I believe that the free version of ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com) is
AOL-compatible. Sygate's free Personal Firewall
(http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm ) is also AOL-Compatible


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

 

[Sharon F]

We are senior citizens and received new notebook with
WinXP. We looked in the Add/Remove programs (Control
Panel) and notice a file "XP Hot Fix KB835732"
Does that mean that we are protected (as well as can be
expected from this Sasser virus/worm? We also have update
Norton Anti Virus running.
Are we fairly safe? Pleae advise as we are quite nervous
that we might lose the use of our newly received notebook.
Thank you for any help.
Alice


(We are using AOL9, which does not allow us to use MS
firewall.)

Additional thoughts: One is never fully protected. New viruses are
discovered on a constant basis. There will always be a bit of lag time
between discovery and distributing updated virus definitions.

Do not open attachments from anyone unless you were expecting them. Even
then it's a good idea to save the file to the hard drive and scan it
directly with an antivirus program that is using the most current virus
definitions. This is still not entirely save due to the lag time mentioned
above and the level of (in)accuracy of the antivirus program being used.

Learn as much as you can about "safe computing and implement safe
practices. Become familiar with what is "normal" for your system so that if
odd behaviors develop, you have a starting point for assessing the
situation.

Firewall enabled, antivirus program kept up to date and staying current on
security patches are all "good practices."

 

[Popodopolus]

Thank you so much. If we download the ZoneAlarm (FREE) to
our NOTEBOOK (WinXP; AOL9; IE6), will it be difficult to
download or use? Will it interfere with other programs
(IE6, etc.)? Our son installed AdAware and Norton AV on
the NOTEBOOK, but he is not here now and we have no one to
ask these questions? As seniors, we a bit hesitant about
downloading anything for fear we will not be able to use
it or it will conflict with other programs. As we said, we
notice this NOTEBOOK does have KB835732). Any help would
be very much appreciated. Thank you again.

-----Original Message-----
Greetings --

If you're using AOL, you'll either need to find a 3rd party
firewall that is compatible with AOL, or switch to a real ISP that is
compatible with the real Internet. This is because AOL is an on-line
content provider that ignores international Internetworking standards
in favor of its own proprietary products, and has deliberately made
its connection software incompatible with both WinXP's built-in
firewall and WinXP's Internet Connection Sharing feature. AOL's
proprietary connection applet is deliberately designed to preclude
your setting/adjusting any of its properties, to include
enabling/disabling WinXP's ICF and ICS.

I believe that the free version of ZoneAlarm

(www.zonelabs.com) is

 

[Popodopolus]

Thank you. Does ZoneAlarm work with notebooks also? Is it
hard to download and use? Does it interfere with other
programs (IE6, etc)? Does it have to be continuously
updated? We are hesitant about downloading it and then
find we will not know how to use it or it will interfere
with other programs on the notebook. (We are still using
our old notebook now.)
Thank you..

-----Original Message-----



Interesting. 9.0 still does not allow the Windows XP ICF to run, eh?

Anyway - the patch you listed IS the one you needed. Make sure by going to:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Scan for updates and install the Critical ones!


In return for that tidbit:

Windows XP ICF is not the only firewall in

existence/free/cheap. There are

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

I haven't used ZoneAlarm for some time, but it certainly used to
be quite easy to install, configure, and use.

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