XP firewall...

[Toby]

I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?

Thanks,
Toby

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Toby,

The internal firewall is fine, but it only prevents incoming traffic. If =
you get a trojan on your machine (unlikely with a dial up), it will not =
prevent it from broadcasting out.

--=20
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Toby" > wrote in message =
...
> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall=20
> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about =
eight=20
> hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
>=20
> Thanks,
> Toby
>

[Tom Porterfield]

The built in firewall included with XP is a good firewall. It stops as
much unwanted incoming traffic as the other commonly used software
firewalls. What it doesn't do is stop outgoing traffic. If you think
that might be a problem then you may want to consider a software firewall
that stops unwanted traffic both directions based on configuration.

--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows XP & Smart Display
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.


Toby wrote:
> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
> hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
>
> Thanks,
> Toby

[Unknown]

But you don't need an outgoing blocker if you don't have any incoming.
"Ray Taylor" > wrote in message
...
> The xp firewall is only able to stop incoming traffic but not outgoing.
This
> means that if you get a trojan on your computer, it will not be able to
> block traffic.
>
> When you change to DSL you may want to get a commercial firewall package
> such as ZoneAlarm.
>
>
> Ray Taylor
>
>
>
> "Toby" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> > sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
> > hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Toby
> >
>
>

[Ray Taylor]

The xp firewall is only able to stop incoming traffic but not outgoing. This
means that if you get a trojan on your computer, it will not be able to
block traffic.

When you change to DSL you may want to get a commercial firewall package
such as ZoneAlarm.


Ray Taylor



"Toby" > wrote in message
...
> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
> hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
>
> Thanks,
> Toby
>

[Len Segal]

.. . . And what many of use is ZoneAlarm www.zonelabs.com. The free version
will be adequate for most home users.

--

Regards,
Len Segal, MCP
Microsoft - MVP
--------------
My reply address is intentionally wrong to reduce SPAM Email.
NOTE: We do not respond to unsolicited Email support questions,
please post questions in newsgroup.

"Tom Porterfield" > wrote in message
...
> The built in firewall included with XP is a good firewall. It stops as
> much unwanted incoming traffic as the other commonly used software
> firewalls. What it doesn't do is stop outgoing traffic. If you think
> that might be a problem then you may want to consider a software firewall
> that stops unwanted traffic both directions based on configuration.
>
> --
> Tom Porterfield
> MS-MVP Windows XP & Smart Display
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support
>
> Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.
>
>
> Toby wrote:
> > I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> > sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
> > hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Toby
>
>

[Ken Blake]

In , Toby wrote:

> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> sufficient protection ...


XP's firewall protects against incoming traffic, but does nothing
against outgoing traffic--for example, a rogue program trying to
call home. For that reason, I prefer the free version of
ZoneALarm.


> ... for a dial up connection that is used about
> eight hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?


Many people will tell you that you need a firewall only if you
have an always-on connection. I completely disagree. Whenever
you're connected, you're exposed to risk. The longer you're
connected, the greater the risk. There are some people with
dial-up connections who are connected for longer than others with
DSL have their computers powered on.

In my view, if you use the internet, you should have a firewall,
and as good a one as you can get. There's no reason not to do
everything you can to minimize that risk. ZoneAlarm is free, does
the job very well, and causes no problems. I recommend it.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Donald Link]

Can you say Zone Alarm Pro?????






"Toby" > wrote in message
...
> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
> hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
>
> Thanks,
> Toby
>

[Ken Blake]

In , Donald Link wrote:

> Can you say Zone Alarm Pro?????


I can say it, but I can also say that I don't think it's worth
the money. As far as I'm concerned, the free ZoneAlarm is just as
good.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup



> "Toby" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
>> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used
about
>> eight hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?

[Bill Martin]

> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
> hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?

If you move to DSL will you be installing a network? Wireless perhaps? If
so, then the situation has changed some and you'll need a fire wall to
protect the entire system, not just one computer. This is frequently
provided as a hardware fire wall in the wireless hub.

Regardless of what you do, the following free web site runs a nice test on
your machine to verify if the ports are all properly closed. It has some
other good info on fire walls and security and such.

https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Bill

[Donald Link]

Agreed but is there any ads? Not sure but would assume so. Nothing is
completely free. Almost!



"Ken Blake" > wrote in message
...
> In , Donald Link wrote:
>
> > Can you say Zone Alarm Pro?????
>
>
> I can say it, but I can also say that I don't think it's worth
> the money. As far as I'm concerned, the free ZoneAlarm is just as
> good.
>
> --
> Ken Blake
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
>
> > "Toby" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> >> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used
> about
> >> eight hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
>
>

[Sharon F]

No ads in the free version. Does not have as many features as the pay
version.


--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

Donald Link wrote:
> Agreed but is there any ads? Not sure but would assume so. Nothing is
> completely free. Almost!
>
>
>
> "Ken Blake" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In , Donald Link wrote:
>>
>>> Can you say Zone Alarm Pro?????
>>
>>
>> I can say it, but I can also say that I don't think it's worth
>> the money. As far as I'm concerned, the free ZoneAlarm is just as
>> good.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>
>>> "Toby" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
>>>> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used
>> about
>>>> eight hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?

[Tom Porterfield]

It has no ads, just not as many features as the Pro (not free) version.
It's kind of like a teaser. What it has works well, but if you really
want some nice features then buy Pro (not my recommendation but that's
kind of the marketing tack for the free version).

Another good, and free, personal firewall is Kerio Personal Firewall
available at http://www.kerio.com/kpf_home.html.

--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows XP & Smart Display
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.


Donald Link wrote:
> Agreed but is there any ads? Not sure but would assume so. Nothing is
> completely free. Almost!
>

[Ken Blake]

In , Donald Link wrote:

> Agreed but is there any ads? Not sure but would assume so.


No.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup



> Nothing
> is completely free. Almost!
>
>
>
> "Ken Blake" > wrote in
message
> ...
>> In , Donald Link wrote:
>>
>>> Can you say Zone Alarm Pro?????
>>
>>
>> I can say it, but I can also say that I don't think it's worth
>> the money. As far as I'm concerned, the free ZoneAlarm is just
as
>> good.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>
>>> "Toby" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt
firewall
>>>> sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used
>> about
>>>> eight hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation
change?

[Toby]

Thanks for your advice. I do intend to network two computers for
Internet sharing using a crossover so your comments are very relevant!

Thanks, Toby

Bill Martin wrote:
>> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
>>sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
>>hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
>
>
> If you move to DSL will you be installing a network? Wireless perhaps? If
> so, then the situation has changed some and you'll need a fire wall to
> protect the entire system, not just one computer. This is frequently
> provided as a hardware fire wall in the wireless hub.
>
> Regardless of what you do, the following free web site runs a nice test on
> your machine to verify if the ports are all properly closed. It has some
> other good info on fire walls and security and such.
>
> https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
>
> Bill

[Daniel - DiGiTaL BlAsPhEmY]

the xp firewall is only a inbound port blocker and basically is crap don't
use it use zone alarm pro or free edition and make sure you slect the net
host for you networj the gateway on zone alarm in the firewall zones.

--
Daniel
Go Nothing To do Hop On Down To:
http://www.danieldove.co.uk
Digital Blasphemy Not digitalblasphemy.com
Latest Technology, games, software and hardware news.
Updated Always. No Static Pages here Mr




"Toby" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for your advice. I do intend to network two computers for
> Internet sharing using a crossover so your comments are very relevant!
>
> Thanks, Toby
>
> Bill Martin wrote:
> >> I have just upgraded to XP ........... Is the inbuilt firewall
> >>sufficient protection for a dial up connection that is used about eight
> >>hours a day? If I move to DSL will the situation change?
> >
> >
> > If you move to DSL will you be installing a network? Wireless perhaps?
If
> > so, then the situation has changed some and you'll need a fire wall to
> > protect the entire system, not just one computer. This is frequently
> > provided as a hardware fire wall in the wireless hub.
> >
> > Regardless of what you do, the following free web site runs a nice test
on
> > your machine to verify if the ports are all properly closed. It has
some
> > other good info on fire walls and security and such.
> >
> > https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
> >
> > Bill
>

[Tom Porterfield]

Daniel - DiGiTaL BlAsPhEmY wrote:
> the xp firewall is only a inbound port blocker and basically is crap

Actually, if you use your computer intelligently an inbound firewall is
all you need. And for that purpose the one included with XP is a very
good one, certainly not "crap".
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows XP & Smart Display
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.