Paul R said:
New to XP and wonder if there's a need to have a 3rd party firewall in
addition to XP's when using a dsl connection as a single home user. I
read in another post a very common sense tip *not* to stack firewalls
(as well as av products) since using multiple firewalls can actually
cause them not to work well.
Is XP's internal firewall sufficient for the average home dsl user or do
3rd party apps work better?
If a 3rd party one is preferable over the XP one, should the XP be
disabled when using the 3rd party one?
XP's firewall is sufficient. But you don't have bells and whistles with it.
A 3rd party firewall will inform you if an attempt is made, and also when
outgoing from your computer is trying to log onto the Internet. Usually you
just "OK" the outgoing once & never have to bother again. But you might catch
some weirdo thing that got onto your hard drive (spyware) and know about it.
& the incoming, usually you tell it not to inform you after the one time for a
similar type of attempt.
Stuff you need as a new computer user - firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware.
A good free firewall program = Zone Alarm
A good free anti-spyware program = Ad Aware
A decent free anti-virus program = AVG
With the above software they all have a "pro" version, & want you to buy it.
But you do not have to. Their free versions do a good job.
Me? I use Norton SystemWorks 2004, which has anti-virus in it. A free copy
of Norton Firewall came with it. & I use Ad Aware. Norton works - it updates
all of the time. However if you are unlucky enough to have a technical
problem (I don't), they want an arm & a leg to call them voice ($29.95). I
recommend them only if you can find a big sale (there is always rebates going
on).
The only reason I recommend Norton, is because of SystemWorks, because of the
password manager - it is very good. I only have to enter in a new login &
password once on a website, and there-after it is done for me. Also it will
fill out forms with my name/address/phone, etc. But I would not just buy the
Norton anti-virus software. The password manager alone is worth the $30 you
should pay (after a rebate) for SystemWorks 2004, and you'll get anti-virus &
some other tools too. Also wait for a sale that has the Norton Personal
Firewall glued to the box.
Oh - if you ever use a router (make a home network of 2 computers or more),
that also becomes a hardware firewall. I am using one, but still use the
Norton Firewall, though I don't have to - why? Because it still tells me when
stuff is outgoing. But incoming never gets to the firewall program, because
the router stops it.
....D.