Windows XP Firewall

[Larry]

I was just curious to know if the Firewall included in
Win XP Home Edition is worth using or should I use
another one. I have a cable modem so I know I need a
firewall, but not sure which one to use. Thanks for any
info.

Larry

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

WinXP's built-in firewall is fine at stopping incoming attacks,
and
hiding your ports from probes. It doesn't give you any alarms to tell
you that it is working, though. What WinXP also does not do, is
protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you might download and
install inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all,
much less block (or at least ask you about) the bad or the
questionable out-going packets.

To enable the built-in firewall, Start > Network Connections >
Right-click the connection > Properties > Advanced > Protect my
computer.....

ZoneAlarm or Sygate are much better, and there are a free versions
available. Personally, I've been very happy with Symantec's Norton
Internet Security 2002 (NIS 2003 is now available), which includes
Norton AntiVirus, Norton Personal Firewall, parental controls, privacy
controls, and ad blocking. (Just the elimination of most pop-up ads
on the Internet made the price worth-while to me.)


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
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----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Larry" > wrote in message
...
> I was just curious to know if the Firewall included in
> Win XP Home Edition is worth using or should I use
> another one. I have a cable modem so I know I need a
> firewall, but not sure which one to use. Thanks for any
> info.
>
> Larry

[Alisha's Addict]

On Sat, 26 Apr 2003 11:14:13 -0700, "Larry" > wrote:

>I was just curious to know if the Firewall included in
>Win XP Home Edition is worth using or should I use
>another one. I have a cable modem so I know I need a
>firewall, but not sure which one to use. Thanks for any
>info.
>
>Larry

I've now disabled it because it was causing problems without telling
me what it was doing. Problems included inability to transfer files
via MSN Messenger.

Zonealarm free is good enough for me :-) (also cable modem user...)

Pete Lilleyman

(please get rid of ".getrid" to reply direct)
(don't get rid of the dontspam though ;-)