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MazLad
new user
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 11
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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?
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rayinski
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 312
Loc: 3rd Planet (Sol System)
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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
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Goonster
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 431
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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 
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mattytun
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 286
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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
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fed up with  -Now, nobody's sayin the Chatsworth Estate is the Garden of Eden, but it's been a good home to us, to me - Frank GALLAGHER ... But all of them to a man... who knows first and formost the most vital necessity is this life is they know how to throw a PARTY! Heh heh... Scatter!
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Goonster
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 431
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I thought it was the inbound communications that needed protecting against anyway?
Or am I misunderstanding how computers work?
Goonster
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FifeFlyer
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4156
Loc: Fife
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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
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Virgin Media 20mb 
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mattytun
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 286
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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.
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fed up with -Now, nobody's sayin the Chatsworth Estate is the Garden of Eden, but it's been a good home to us, to me - Frank GALLAGHER ... But all of them to a man... who knows first and formost the most vital necessity is this life is they know how to throw a PARTY! Heh heh... Scatter!
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bricat
HijackThis Helper
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 31987
Loc: belfast
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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.
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IF I HAVE SAVED YOU MONEY, PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING A DONATION TO HELP IN MY FIGHT AGAINST MALWARE.
 
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail. 
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Goonster
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 431
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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
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heidi
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 421
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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?
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FifeFlyer
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4156
Loc: Fife
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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.
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Virgin Media 20mb
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Goonster
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 431
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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
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ronjon
regular
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 444
Loc: Manchester
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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.
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bricat
HijackThis Helper
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 31987
Loc: belfast
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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.
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IF I HAVE SAVED YOU MONEY, PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING A DONATION TO HELP IN MY FIGHT AGAINST MALWARE.
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.
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FifeFlyer
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4156
Loc: Fife
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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.
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Virgin Media 20mb
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ronjon
regular
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 444
Loc: Manchester
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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.
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Goonster
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 431
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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
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MazLad
new user
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 11
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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?
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Goonster
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 431
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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
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