Windows Defender question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ron Hirsch
  • Start date Start date
R

Ron Hirsch

I run a variety of security software on my machine. I do use Windows
Defender as my firewall.

I'm running XP SP3, fully patched.

Very often, after booting up, there is a small shield icon in my right
taskbar, and a balloon mesage above it noting that my Firewall in not turned
on. When I click on it as suggested, the MS security window opens, but all
three items in that window are noted as being on. and the icon alert
disppears. On one occasion, before I ever had a chance to do anything, the
alert and icon disappeared.

This does not happen on every bootup - but it does this about 1/2 the time.

Anyone have any ideas why this is occurring?

Ron Hirsch
 
Ron Hirsch said:
I run a variety of security software on my machine. I do use Windows
Defender as my firewall.

I'm running XP SP3, fully patched.

Very often, after booting up, there is a small shield icon in my right
taskbar, and a balloon mesage above it noting that my Firewall in not
turned
on. When I click on it as suggested, the MS security window opens, but all
three items in that window are noted as being on. and the icon alert
disppears. On one occasion, before I ever had a chance to do anything, the
alert and icon disappeared.

This does not happen on every bootup - but it does this about 1/2 the
time.

Anyone have any ideas why this is occurring?

Ron Hirsch
Click to expand...


Windows Defender is /not/ a firewall.
 
Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your reply.

I had assumed that Windows Defender inlcuded the Windows Firewall function
also, but obvioulsy I am mistaken, and Windows Firewall is not a part of
Defender.

I am using the Windows Firewall however.

So, may I rephrase my original question ask why that box comes up, when it
does state that my "FireWall" is ON as soon as I open that box. This is the
box that notes the status of the firewall, virus protection, and automatic
updates. All three of these are noted as being "ON".

What is your opinion of the Windows XP Firewall? Which of the firewalls out
there would you recommend that I consider if you are not that thrilled with
the Windows Firewall?

Thanks for your help.

Ron Hirsch

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ron Hirsch said:
I run a variety of security software on my machine. I do use Windows
Defender as my firewall.

I'm running XP SP3, fully patched.

Very often, after booting up, there is a small shield icon in my right
taskbar, and a balloon mesage above it noting that my Firewall in not
turned
on. When I click on it as suggested, the MS security window opens, but all
three items in that window are noted as being on. and the icon alert
disppears. On one occasion, before I ever had a chance to do anything, the
alert and icon disappeared.

This does not happen on every bootup - but it does this about 1/2 the
time.

Anyone have any ideas why this is occurring?

Ron Hirsch
Click to expand...


Windows Defender is /not/ a firewall.
 
I'm not sure why you are getting that prompt then.

IMHO, the Windows Firewall is good enough /if/ you have a router with a
firewall as well. If not, there are some good freeware ones out there. I
have been using Comodo with good success.

Comodo Firewall Pro 3.5.57173.439
http://www.download.com/Comodo-Firewall-Pro/3000-10435_4-10460704.html

If you get a third party firewall, then you will want to turn off the
Windows firewall.
 
I run a variety of security software on my machine. I do use Windows
Defender as my firewall.

I'm running XP SP3, fully patched.

Very often, after booting up, there is a small shield icon in my right
taskbar, and a balloon mesage above it noting that my Firewall in not turned
on. When I click on it as suggested, the MS security window opens, but all
three items in that window are noted as being on. and the icon alert
disppears. On one occasion, before I ever had a chance to do anything, the
alert and icon disappeared.

This does not happen on every bootup - but it does this about 1/2 the time.

Anyone have any ideas why this is occurring?

Ron Hirsch
Click to expand...


If you want to keep using it, I would try disabling the Windows
Firewall in the Control Panel, then reboot the system and then re-
enable it.

Note that it can only monitor inward traffic, not outgoing traffic,
which is a major weakness in a firewall.

The Comodo firewall from http://www.comodo.com/ is excellent. It will
let you know if there is any suspicious activity.

If you are installing software, you can select its install mode after
the first warning message. It will query any software it doesn't
recognise but learns by the user giving it the okay.

Once you get used to howit operates nothing going out of the PC of
coming in or wanting to install can get past it.

With it installed, you should make sure that the Windows Firewall is
turned off, because you should not run two firewalls. With it
installed Windows will only report that the firewall is missing if it
has been disabled.

Eric,
PC Buyer Beware!
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/
 
What you're seeing is called a "race condition." Short-version: At boot,
Security Center sometimes loads before the Windows Firewall completes
loading. When the "race" ends shortly thereafter, all is well. Then
again...

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
Have you ever had a third-party firewall installed? If so, is it still
listed in Add/Remove Programs?

Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine
(e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Ron Hirsch wrote:
 
Thanks to all of you for your inputs.

I appreciate the prompt responses

Ron Hirsch
 
Hi PA Bear,

Thanks for your inputs.

My anti-virus is AVG 8 (paid version), fully updated.

And yes, I had a third-party firewall installed in the past - maybe up until
mid 2008. It was one of the well known free firewalls, but the name escapes
me now. It was always a PITA. So I uninstalled it, and switch over to
Windows Firewall. And it does not show in the uninstall list.

I was thinking about the "race" you mentioned, especially after the error
message box disappeared on its own a couple of times.

In any event, I shut Windows Firewall down, and rebooted, and reactivated
it. If the "problem" continues to occur, I'll install Comodo firewall, and
deactivate the windows firewall.

Ron
+++++++++++++++++++


What you're seeing is called a "race condition." Short-version: At boot,
Security Center sometimes loads before the Windows Firewall completes
loading. When the "race" ends shortly thereafter, all is well. Then
again...

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
Have you ever had a third-party firewall installed? If so, is it still
listed in Add/Remove Programs?

Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine
(e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Ron Hirsch wrote:
 
After disabling Windows Firewall, I shut down, rebooted, and reactivated it.
This was last evening. When I booted up this am, the usual error message box
appeared, but I decided to not do anything about it, and see what happened.
In about 12 seconds, the error message disappeared - so it does seem that
the situation is related to the timing of the various startup items, and
that there is no real problem with Windows Firewall.

I do have a pretty large list of startup items - so it would definitely seem
to be a matter of timing, and I will not changeover to Comodo for now, but
leave Windows Firewall in place.

Thanks again -

Ron
+++++++++++++++


YW & thanks for your feedback. Note that this "race condition" does NOT
mean that anything's wrong.

Given you last reply, you may want to...

Rebuild the Window Management Instrumentation Repository (WinXP)
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

[Related discussion:
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=36006&p=201285#p201285]
 

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