Sygate doesn't seem to be updating anymore

[louise]

since Sygate does not seem to be updating anymore --
purchased by Symantec -- I'm beginning to feel the need to
do something else.

Win XP Pro
Linksys wired router
NOD32
Firefox about 60% of the time and IE, the rest of the time.
Outlook for e-mail

I run Adaware, Spybot and Spydoctor on demand - I don't
leave any of them running.

So what will replace Sygate and is not about to fold or be
purchased and included in some suite? I would really like
to be able to continue to use the best of each category for
my security.because of my use of speech recognition
software, I would like to conserve resources as much as
possible.

I've read the suggestion that the XP firewall be turned on
and BoClean be run. Is this a reasonable solution? Or,
what are some other options?

TIA

Louise

 

[optikl]

since Sygate does not seem to be updating anymore -- purchased by
Symantec -- I'm beginning to feel the need to do something else.

Win XP Pro
Linksys wired router
NOD32
Firefox about 60% of the time and IE, the rest of the time.
Outlook for e-mail

I run Adaware, Spybot and Spydoctor on demand - I don't leave any of
them running.

So what will replace Sygate and is not about to fold or be purchased and
included in some suite? I would really like to be able to continue to
use the best of each category for my security.because of my use of
speech recognition software, I would like to conserve resources as much
as possible.

I've read the suggestion that the XP firewall be turned on and BoClean
be run. Is this a reasonable solution? Or, what are some other options?

TIA

Louise

The new version of BOClean (4.20) uses a truckload of CPU at startup and
during periodic memory scans. If can live with that, then BOClean is a
reasonably sound choice for on-access file scanning. But, from the looks
of what you got, surely with NOD32 and working behind a Linksys router,
you have plenty of security (unless of course you have a huge on-line
Porn appetite). You know that you can set security policies within XP
Pro to further harden your system against intrusion. Finally, if you're
worried about unauthorized applications somehow making their way on to
your system and fouling your registry and startup files, get something
like WinPatrol. With the setup you've got, you don't *need* any software
firewall replacements, unless you have a burning desire to waste your
money. If you do, contribute it to a politician.

 

[Art]

since Sygate does not seem to be updating anymore --
purchased by Symantec -- I'm beginning to feel the need to
do something else.

Win XP Pro
Linksys wired router
NOD32
Firefox about 60% of the time and IE, the rest of the time.
Outlook for e-mail

I run Adaware, Spybot and Spydoctor on demand - I don't
leave any of them running.

So what will replace Sygate and is not about to fold or be
purchased and included in some suite? I would really like
to be able to continue to use the best of each category for
my security.because of my use of speech recognition
software, I would like to conserve resources as much as
possible.

I've read the suggestion that the XP firewall be turned on
and BoClean be run. Is this a reasonable solution? Or,
what are some other options?

Are you saying that your Linksys doesn't provide you with
a firewall function? What is the model #?

Assuming that you already have a router/firewall, a software
firewall has nothing to do insofar as blocking unrequested
incoming packets. So in that case, enabling the XP firewall
accomplishes nothing since it only blocks incoming.

Some people like third party software firewalls such as Sygate
because they have the capability of permitting only authorized apps to
access the internet. There is controversy on this since they are easy
for malware to circumvent and/or disable. So if you are hit by certain
malwares, the software firewall (and maybe antivirus) is useless.
OTOH, not all malware and spyware do this, so in some cases the
software firewalls have been useful in alerting users to
malware/spyware.

If it gives you the warm fuzzies to use a software firewall, you might
ask for opinions in a firewall newsgroup. ZA and Outpost are still
available, I suppose. Personally, I plan to hang on to Sygate since
I like its traffic log. However, I rarely use it since I have a
router/firewall and have closed all ports besides

Art

http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

 

[louise]

Are you saying that your Linksys doesn't provide you with
a firewall function? What is the model #?

Assuming that you already have a router/firewall, a software
firewall has nothing to do insofar as blocking unrequested
incoming packets. So in that case, enabling the XP firewall
accomplishes nothing since it only blocks incoming.

Some people like third party software firewalls such as Sygate
because they have the capability of permitting only authorized apps to
access the internet. There is controversy on this since they are easy
for malware to circumvent and/or disable. So if you are hit by certain
malwares, the software firewall (and maybe antivirus) is useless.
OTOH, not all malware and spyware do this, so in some cases the
software firewalls have been useful in alerting users to
malware/spyware.

If it gives you the warm fuzzies to use a software firewall, you might
ask for opinions in a firewall newsgroup. ZA and Outpost are still
available, I suppose. Personally, I plan to hang on to Sygate since
I like its traffic log. However, I rarely use it since I have a
router/firewall and have closed all ports besides

Art

http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

Thanks for your response. My Linksys is a 3 year old
BEFSR41. I believe it does have an NAT built in. Is that
correct?

I don't want "warm fuzzies" at the price of using resources,
sofware conflicts, and all that goes with excessive use of
supposed safeguards. For this reason, I leave none of the
spyware programs running and only use them periodically, on
demand.

Since BoClean takes a big bite out of resources, I'm much
less inclined toward it.

I gather I should just leave the old Sygate running and not
worry about it?

TIA

Louise

 

[David H. Lipman]

| Thanks for your response. My Linksys is a 3 year old
| BEFSR41. I believe it does have an NAT built in. Is that
| correct?
|
| I don't want "warm fuzzies" at the price of using resources,
| sofware conflicts, and all that goes with excessive use of
| supposed safeguards. For this reason, I leave none of the
| spyware programs running and only use them periodically, on
| demand.
|
| Since BoClean takes a big bite out of resources, I'm much
| less inclined toward it.
|
| I gather I should just leave the old Sygate running and not
| worry about it?
|
| TIA
|
| Louise

The Linksys BEFSR41 is a NAT Router.
It is NOT a full FireWall implementation but has FireWall constructs.


One powerful construct is port blocking.
{ The following is known for a v2 model a BEFSR41 v3 model may be slightly different }
Go to the URL http://192.168.1.1/Filters.htm

Find "Filtered Private Port Range" and set the following...

"1:" should be set to "both" then in the first box enter 135 and in the second box enter
139
"2:" should be set to "both" then in the first box enter 445 and in the second box enter
445

Depending the model version the following could be on the same URL or a different URL ...

Enable -- Block WAN Request
Disable -- Remote Management
Disable -- Remote Upgrade

 

[James Egan]

I don't want "warm fuzzies" at the price of using resources,
sofware conflicts, and all that goes with excessive use of
supposed safeguards. For this reason, I leave none of the
spyware programs running and only use them periodically, on
demand.

Absolutely. Couldn't have put it better.

I gather I should just leave the old Sygate running and not
worry about it?

Since your router is stopping all the unsolicited incoming stuff
already your software firewall is another unnecessary resource hog /
software conflict (in waiting) which you can do without, save for the
minor contribution it makes toward you accidentally running something
you don't know about. From your post it sounds like you're clued up
enough to do without that.


Jim.

 

[Art]

Thanks for your response. My Linksys is a 3 year old
BEFSR41. I believe it does have an NAT built in. Is that
correct?

David says it is.

I don't want "warm fuzzies" at the price of using resources,
sofware conflicts, and all that goes with excessive use of
supposed safeguards. For this reason, I leave none of the
spyware programs running and only use them periodically, on
demand.

Since BoClean takes a big bite out of resources, I'm much
less inclined toward it.

I suppose you use it because historically NOD32 had poor Trojan
detection. However, that seems to have been improved drastically.

I gather I should just leave the old Sygate running and not
worry about it?

That's not what I suggested at all. Here's a test you can do to
check your NAT router. After being on line for awhile, and using
various internet apps, check the Sygate traffic log. If the router
is blocking inbound probes, all you should see are entries that
are noted as OUTBOUND and with a left pointing arrow. If you
see any INBOUND and right pointing arrow entries, the router
isn't blocking unauthorized inbound attempts.

If all you see are OUTBOUND entries, you can disable
Sygate. Then go to their port scanning web site:

http://scan.sygate.com/

Do the various tests available there. The report should show
all ports as BLOCKED. If so, you have verified that your router
is blocking all unauthorized inbound and you have no need
for Sygate or any software firewall.

Let us know what happens.

Art

http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg