SP2 firewall versus Norton firewall

[Ross M. Greenberg]

99.9% of my problems with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express ended up,
apparently, being firewall problems: when I disable all firewalls I can
browse. When SP2's firewall is enabled I can no longer browse if by some
chance, Outlook express has run. If I disable SP2's firewall, and then run
Norton's firewall, I have to disable it in order to browse. Norton's
firewall has the ability to disable for a time interval. After that time
interval, the firewall is enabled again and my ability to browse no longer
exists onto a disable the firewall once again.

This is on a new HP Pavilion, running Media Center.

I'm uncomfortable with the firewalls turned off: does anybody know what the
problem might be more potential workarounds?

Thanks!

Ross

 

[Leythos]

99.9% of my problems with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express ended up,
apparently, being firewall problems: when I disable all firewalls I can
browse. When SP2's firewall is enabled I can no longer browse if by some
chance, Outlook express has run. If I disable SP2's firewall, and then run
Norton's firewall, I have to disable it in order to browse. Norton's
firewall has the ability to disable for a time interval. After that time
interval, the firewall is enabled again and my ability to browse no longer
exists onto a disable the firewall once again.

This is on a new HP Pavilion, running Media Center.

I'm uncomfortable with the firewalls turned off: does anybody know what the
problem might be more potential workarounds?

If you have a Cable or DSL connection then get a NAT Router, a device
that sits between your computer and internet, this will protect you
against unsolicited connections from the world. This also makes the
firewalls unnecessary in most cases, as most of them can only protect
against inbound and don't do anything about outgoing traffic.

As for NIS/XP, you should only be using one or the other, not both. If
you try and use them both you will have lots of problems.

 

[Richard Urban]

You have Norton on your system and you are wondering what the problem is??

If you would read the posts here, going back only for the last month, you
would see that there are more computer problems caused by Symantec/Norton
that the next 5 most problematic programs combined.

Do yourself a favor and dump Norton/Symantec and be happy again.

Try Zonealarm Free for a good experience. If you want more control, try
Zonealarm Pro (not free).

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Antioch]

I use free Zone Alarm as a lot of newsgroup posters do.
But check with your ISP and see if they provide antispy, antispam,
anti-malware and a firewall.
If you have to pay dont. Good progs can be obtained.
I understand is not an easy matter to rid your computer of Norton stuff -
there is a link to Symantec to help clear your whole system of their stuff.
You may require it.
Rgds
Antioch

 

[Ross M. Greenberg]

I use free Zone Alarm as a lot of newsgroup posters do.
But check with your ISP and see if they provide antispy, antispam,
anti-malware and a firewall.
If you have to pay dont. Good progs can be obtained.
I understand is not an easy matter to rid your computer of Norton stuff -
there is a link to Symantec to help clear your whole system of their
stuff. You may require it.
Rgds
Antioch

So I downloaded Zonealarm Pro in fact went to install it and I spent the
last seven hours trying to recover my PC, having Save/Restore not work,
losing my Dragon NaturallySpeaking (I need to voice recognition due to some
illness) and generally having a miserable time.

Sigh.

I've had good experience before with zone alarm, so I don't know exactly
what happened.

If I get rid of Norton firewall and live only it with the SP2 firewall will
that give me the protection I need?

Ross

 

[antioch]

So I downloaded Zonealarm Pro in fact went to install it and I spent the
last seven hours trying to recover my PC, having Save/Restore not work,
losing my Dragon NaturallySpeaking (I need to voice recognition due to
some illness) and generally having a miserable time.

Sigh.

I've had good experience before with zone alarm, so I don't know exactly
what happened.

If I get rid of Norton firewall and live only it with the SP2 firewall
will that give me the protection I need?

Ross

Did you download ZA before getting you got rid of Norton as advised
previously - my understanding is that it is not removed completely via
Add/Remove or their own uninstall. Having both running at the same time
would no doubt cause conflict?
Antioch

 

[Lem]

If you have a Cable or DSL connection then get a NAT Router, a device
that sits between your computer and internet, this will protect you
against unsolicited connections from the world. This also makes the
firewalls unnecessary in most cases, as most of them can only protect
against inbound and don't do anything about outgoing traffic.

As for NIS/XP, you should only be using one or the other, not both. If
you try and use them both you will have lots of problems.

Actually, you can (and should) get a router with built-in NAT and SPI
firewall even if you use dial-up. See MVP PChuck:
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/sharing-your-dialup-internet-service.html

But there is something else going on. You should (many do) use Internet
Explorer and Outlook Express with the Windows XPSP2 firewall. Is it
properly configured? And notwithstanding all of the (mostly deserved)
Symantec bashing on these ng's, there still are a large number of users
successfully browsing with IE and OE while running some form of Norton
security app. Finally, as you discovered, ZA today is not the lean,
mean, trouble-free appl'n it was when it was first released.

 

[Leythos]

Actually, you can (and should) get a router with built-in NAT and SPI
firewall even if you use dial-up. See MVP PChuck:
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/sharing-your-dialup-internet-service.html

But there is something else going on. You should (many do) use Internet
Explorer and Outlook Express with the Windows XPSP2 firewall. Is it
properly configured? And notwithstanding all of the (mostly deserved)
Symantec bashing on these ng's, there still are a large number of users
successfully browsing with IE and OE while running some form of Norton
security app. Finally, as you discovered, ZA today is not the lean,
mean, trouble-free appl'n it was when it was first released.

You should be replying to the OP and not me - I've already said he
should get a router.

 

[Ross M. Greenberg]

Yes, Norton did not exist on mt system at th3 tome.........