Why do I get warning that firewall is not turned on?

[MaryL]

I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct the
problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a balloon
in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.

Thanks,
MaryL

 

[Rich Barry]

Mary, go back to Control Center>Security Center. Then click on Change
the way the
Security Center alerts me. Uncheck the Firewall box. Make sure it says
it's on first.

 

[Script]

Is the warning usually when you Start your computer, or just at random?
Malware status?
More info may be helpful.

 

[MaryL]

It occurs when I start the computer, but it is *not* frequent. In fact,
several weeks will go by between occurrences, then I will suddenly get the
warning that my computer may be at risk because a firewall is not turned on.
Unfortunately, there really are no other details to provide -- it happens
infrequently, and if it is associated with anything, I don't know what it
would be. I use an anti-virus program (currently Avast!, but sometimes
AVG -- *not* running simultaneously, of course). I use both Ad-Aware SE and
Spybot Search and Destroy. I run Ad-Aware several times a week and run
Spybot every week or so.

MaryL

 

[MaryL]

Where can I find this option? I checked Security Center and did find that
setting. Also, what is the reason/effect for the change?

While checking for the setting you mentioned, I did find that there are some
exceptions that have been checked under Windows Firewall. I did not
manually check any exceptions, so these appear to have been set by other
programs, possibly during installation. Is this a problem? The listed
exceptions are these: HP Software Update Client; RealOne Player; Remote
Assistance; and SpoolerSubSystem App.

MaryL

 

[R. McCarty]

One possible explanation for why you occasionally see this warning
might be Service time-out. Windows services are interdependent. A
particular Service cannot start unless a dependant service is already
running. XP will wait up to 30-seconds for service to time out. There
may be cases where the Firewall service isn't started but the Security
Center has started and can't detect the firewall so it presents the
warning message. The Windows Firewall starts via a SvcHost session
and has 2 dependency services.

I wouldn't mask out the Security Center from monitoring the firewall.

 

[Rich Barry]

Mary, try a different firewall. Comodo is very good. It's also free.
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

 

[Alias]

I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct the
problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a balloon
in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.

Thanks,
MaryL

The XP firewall is crap. I use Comodo, a free and very good firewall:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Don't turn off the Security Center's way of notifying you like was
suggested by another post as it *will* recognize Comodo. DO turn off the
Windows firewall before installing Comodo. If you don't have a router,
disconnect from the Internet before proceeding.

Alias

 

[MaryL]

The XP firewall is crap. I use Comodo, a free and very good firewall:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Don't turn off the Security Center's way of notifying you like was
suggested by another post as it *will* recognize Comodo. DO turn off the
Windows firewall before installing Comodo. If you don't have a router,
disconnect from the Internet before proceeding.

Alias

Thanks. Comodo was also recommended by Rich Barry. I read a couple of
reviews, and it sounds good. I would like to try it, and you just answered
one question I wondered about -- that is, to turn off Windows firewall
first. I knew not to run two anti-virus programs simultaneously and
suspected that would also be true of firewalls but was not sure. I am
connected via cable, and I have a Linksys Wirelesss-G broadband router.

MaryL

 

[MaryL]

Thanks. I read a couple of reviews, and Comodo sounds good. I'm going to
try it.

MaryL

 

[Alias]

Thanks. Comodo was also recommended by Rich Barry. I read a couple of
reviews, and it sounds good. I would like to try it, and you just answered
one question I wondered about -- that is, to turn off Windows firewall
first. I knew not to run two anti-virus programs simultaneously and
suspected that would also be true of firewalls but was not sure. I am
connected via cable, and I have a Linksys Wirelesss-G broadband router.

MaryL

Then you're set to install it. It asks permission for apps a lot at
first but once it learns what you want to allow and what you don't want
to allow, it calms down.

Alias

 

[Robert]

It occurs when I start the computer, but it is *not* frequent. In fact,
several weeks will go by between occurrences, then I will suddenly get the
warning that my computer may be at risk because a firewall is not turned on.
Unfortunately, there really are no other details to provide -- it happens
infrequently, and if it is associated with anything, I don't know what it
would be. I use an anti-virus program (currently Avast!, but sometimes
AVG -- *not* running simultaneously, of course). I use both Ad-Aware SE and
Spybot Search and Destroy. I run Ad-Aware several times a week and run
Spybot every week or so.

Hello Mary,
I don't pretend to be a computer expert by any means but I suggest
using Comodo for your firewall, it's free:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

AVG is an excellent antivirus and Spybot and Ad-Aware are both
excellent as malware removers.


Robert

 

[BoB]

Thanks. I read a couple of reviews, and Comodo sounds good. I'm going to
try it.

MaryL

Commodo v3 just came out, most like it but the jury is not in yet. The
first update came out within hours. Some users have gone back to v2.4
until they get some fixes out. You could follow the thread here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19478891-Comodo-Firewall-Pro-30-Released

BoB

 

[Alias]

Commodo v3 just came out, most like it but the jury is not in yet. The
first update came out within hours. Some users have gone back to v2.4
until they get some fixes out. You could follow the thread here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19478891-Comodo-Firewall-Pro-30-Released

BoB

I'm using it and haven't had any problems.

Alias