SP2 and firewalls?

[Xeno Chauvin]

Getting ready to install SP2.
Can the Microsoft Firewall be used in tandem
with another "firewall" program or hardware firewall?
Thanx
Xeno

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Do not use more than one (1) software-based firewall
as conflicts and error messages may occur.

If you already have a non-Microsoft firewall on your computer, you should
continue to use it. If you do not have a firewall, then you have a choice.

If you want a simple firewall that is very easy to configure, then you should
use the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall. If you want more advanced
control over the traffic that passes through your computer and you also want to
block outgoing traffic (that is the traffic from your computer out to the Internet)
then choose a personal firewall from another company.

Internet firewalls: Frequently asked questions
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/firewall.mspx

Use the Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/icf.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Getting ready to install SP2.
| Can the Microsoft Firewall be used in tandem
| with another "firewall" program or hardware firewall?
| Thanx
| Xeno

 

[S. Taylor]

I use Norton AV 2005 which includes Internet Worm Protection
and zero problems with the combo.
I've also used Norton Firewall 2005, with them, for outbound protection with
no problems

 

[M.Meels]

Xeno,

Use either XP SP2 Firewall or some other Firewall (mine is Sygate
Personal Firewall).

Go to Configuration-> Firewall and disable the SP2-addon Firewall
(you'll get warnings, ignore them).

Then install your own (and reboot, do not forget !).

Check you're firewall on some site by letting it attack you
(sygate.com) and verify that your own setup indeed warns you.

Be aware that Spyware/Adware on your own harddisk(s) are the most
dangerous (E.T. phone home I call that): you need to secure what is
trying to connect with an external IP-adres from within !

Download any free software from the Internet and it is likely to contain
some form of Spy/Ad-ware that is illegally gathering info like your
banking application's key-strokes.
Then the firewall asks you if a certain DLL or EXE-file may 'access the
internet' - then what ?!

Guess what - initially you HAVE TO approve by the firewall, otherwise
the new application will 'crash' or 'fail'.
Some days/weeks later that Spy/Ad-ware can easily send back it's illegal
info to a certain DNS-name or IP-adress.

It's not what it trying to invade from the outside: it 's about what
illegal software you downloaded earlier !!!

Mark my words:
Hacking used to be for proving something could be done
(to warn people or companies).
Nowadays there is a lot of money involved (nerds grew up and became
cyber-criminals ...).

The plot from the movie 'The Net' can easily be rewritten in somewhat
more modern activities regarding everyone who uses a fast internet
connection to upload or download anything that is 'for free' !

Succes,

Marc