| MazLad |
| (new user) |
| Mon Jan 21 2008 07:16 PM |
Windows Firewall adequate?
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I recently picked up a new machine running Vista, In terms of security, I've got 'avast!' and Windows Firewall.
I was just wondering what people's preferences are in terms of firewall? Windows Firewall is pretty handy as it's pre-installed and it doesn't drive me mental, as Norton Internet Security did on my last computer...
But the question is of course... Is Windows Firewall any good when compared to other free downloadable firewalls?
| rayinski |
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| Mon Jan 21 2008 09:46 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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for long term use, the windows firewall to my mind is inadequate and a lot of the people who post here use either zonealarm or comodo and they can be found here:
www.zonealarm.com (look for the free version)
or
www.comodo.com
I personally use zonealarm, but that's my personal preference, hopefully you will make a choice that's best for you and if you have problems with the firewall of you choice, then the good people here will be happy to help.
Ray
| Goonster |
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| Mon Jan 21 2008 11:41 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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I have had my Dell laptop for seven months now . Being new to computers I relied on what was pre-installed .I have used the Vista firewall so far without any problems . There is also a firewall built into the router.I know two firewalls can conflict with each other but I assumed the engineer who set up the system knew what he was doing.So far so good.
Goonster
| mattytun |
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| Tue Jan 22 2008 11:02 AM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Windows XP's built-in firewall isn't enough. 3rd party firewalls offer protection and configurations that Windows Firewall doesn't. Did you know that Windows Firewall only protects inbound communications and not outbound? i use comodo firewall along with AVG antivirus and they both fine
| Goonster |
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| Tue Jan 22 2008 04:20 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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I thought it was the inbound communications that needed protecting against anyway?
Or am I misunderstanding how computers work?
Goonster
| FifeFlyer |
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| Tue Jan 22 2008 05:02 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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goonster , i don't use Zone Alarm so I'm not advertising their product , but this article will help explain.......click me
| mattytun |
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| Tue Jan 22 2008 06:19 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Quote:
I thought it was the inbound communications that needed protecting against anyway?
Or am I misunderstanding how computers work?
Goonster
Windows XP's firewall filters inbound traffic only. This means that if somehow your computer gets attacked, such as by spyware, it could open holes in your machine for it to communicate with the outside world. This can potentially lead to system crashes or identity theft.
| bricat |
| (HijackThis Helper) |
| Tue Jan 22 2008 06:20 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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windows firewall is definitely inadequate, it monitors traffic in one direction only, if a trojan or virus gets into your system there is nothing stopping it from contacting an outside site, possibly with personal information from your computer, ie credit card details, passwords etc.
if you have a router set up and it has a hardware firewall installed that is sufficient you don't really need a software one, if you are not connected through a router with a firewall you need a software firewall, zonealarm etc.
the windows one is not really fit for purpose.
| Goonster |
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| Tue Jan 22 2008 11:30 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Quote:
goonster , i don't use Zone Alarm so I'm not advertising their product , but this article will help explain.......click me
Thanks.It made for an interesting read.I think I`ll try Zone Alarm then.
I assume you have to turn off the Vista Firewall before you download it or does everything happen automatically?
Goonster
| heidi |
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| Wed Jan 23 2008 12:14 AM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Doesn't the Vista firewall manage outbound as well as inbound traffic, in contrast with the XP firewall that only managed incoming traffic?
| FifeFlyer |
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| Wed Jan 23 2008 02:03 AM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Quote:
Doesn't the Vista firewall manage outbound as well as inbound traffic
heidi , it does , or should i say can. Interesting article....here ... ( one of many to be found with the same opinion ), that explains the ability of Vista's firewall to block/control outbound traffic.
The bit that sticks out for me is where it says ....."Program-based control is imperative, but Vista won't alert you in any way when a program or process attempts to connect to the Internet".
Don't know about you , but i like to know if anything on my pc's trying to connect outwards.
Third party firewalls such as Zone Alarm give you warning when something tries to connect from your pc and you can decided to allow or deny.
This is one of the reasons i would personally always advise a Vista user to use an alternative to the windows one.
| Goonster |
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| Wed Jan 23 2008 06:37 AM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Just read the article on the link.I can`t believe Vista`s firewall default settings have the outbound control switched off! What were they thinking?
It does get 4 stars though!
Goonster
| ronjon |
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| Wed Jan 23 2008 11:50 AM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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As supplied, the vista Firewall protects well for incoming attacks. It's firewall is also capable of preventing malware that has installed itself on your computer from 'phoning home' or otherwise sending out malicious data.
To enable this outgoing function do the following:
Goto the Control Panel from the Start Menu and near the top, click on Adminstrator Tools. From there, at the bottom, you'll see Windows firewall with Advanced Security.
Click on Windows Firewall with Advanced Security and about halfway down the screen is a small, underlined blue link called "windows firewall properties". Click on that.
In the next window find the first section is called State. The third box there is called Outbound connections. Click on that and change it to Block. Then click OK out of it all.
The Block will block outgoing data with the same rules as are set for incoming data, so won't need altering unless you get a specific problem.
| bricat |
| (HijackThis Helper) |
| Wed Jan 23 2008 05:23 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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have a look HERE for info about VISTA's firewall.
not much improvement from the XP one, and even more confusing.
| FifeFlyer |
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| Wed Jan 23 2008 05:31 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Quote:
not much improvement from the XP one, and even more confusing.
Agreed bricat..........and if it were me I'd play safe and go for a third party option every time.
| ronjon |
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| Wed Jan 23 2008 06:18 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Quote:
have a look HERE for info about VISTA's firewall.
not much improvement from the XP one, and even more confusing.
This article was published on 6th June 2006 and I trust bricat implicitly and yes there are better Firewalls out there.
But in answer to Mazlad's post is Windows Vista Firewall adequate,yes I think it is if set to block outbound.
| Goonster |
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| Wed Jan 23 2008 10:22 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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>To enable this outgoing function do the following:
Goto the Control Panel from the Start Menu and near the top, click on Adminstrator Tools. From there, at the bottom, you'll see Windows firewall with Advanced Security.
Click on Windows Firewall with Advanced Security and about halfway down the screen is a small, underlined blue link called "windows firewall properties". Click on that.
In the next window find the first section is called State. The third box there is called Outbound connections. Click on that and change it to Block. Then click OK out of it all.<
Ok I`ve done all that . Thanks for the tip .It might not be the best but at least its better than nothing.
It won`t stop the laptop communicating with the printer will it? I use a USB cable.
Goonster
| MazLad |
| (new user) |
| Thu Jan 24 2008 10:04 AM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Thanks for all the info. I'll sort out the Vista outbound malarky when I get back from work! Seems strange that such an option isn't selected by default?
| Goonster |
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| Thu Jan 24 2008 07:12 PM |
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Re: Windows Firewall adequate?
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Your quite right. If Microsoft had any sense it would have been . And if it was not for this thread I would never have known about it.I`ll make sure all my mates are aware of this as well .
Goonster