Firewall Advice

rh1

rh1

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
17,119
Reaction score
19,741
Location
Somewhere close to you
Hi
I need some firewall advice, been using Zone Alarm Free, but after updating, it uses 80% to 100% of the Cpu, which just slows my PC down:(. Also using Avira. I am running XP home.
 
Is it really necessary to use a 3rd party firewall? I always thought the default Windows firewall was sufficient.
 
Sjoe Viva. Remember if you a budding little script kiddie with 2 brain cells, your virus/worm must be able to defeat UAC and windows Firewall.

So relying on Windows Firewall is akin to walking butt naked through a prison shower with your arse in the air.
 
Peon said:
Sjoe Viva. Remember if you a budding little script kiddie with 2 brain cells, your virus/worm must be able to defeat UAC and windows Firewall.

So relying on Windows Firewall is akin to walking butt naked through a prison shower with your arse in the air.
Click to expand...

I haven't used a 3rd party firewall in years, and I've had no issues. Same goes for most myBB forumites, I would guess. If you don't do anything questionable (like serving childporn from your PC or trying to hack a bank :D), I'm sure you're not interesting enough to attract anonymous' attention. A good dose of common sense is the best protection when it comes to computers and the internet.
 
Viva said:
I haven't used a 3rd party firewall in years, and I've had no issues. Same goes for most myBB forumites, I would guess. If you don't do anything questionable (like serving childporn from your PC or trying to hack a bank :D), I'm sure you're not interesting enough to attract anonymous' attention. A good dose of common sense is the best protection when it comes to computers and the internet.
Click to expand...

Hmm yes, this is a g00d idea. However should your router be in bridge mode and your PC scanned in an IP harvest then results might vary. Lookup Sasser, even Mrs brown who liked to find pictures of bees collecting pollen was vulnerable. She was behaving herself.

Sasser is no longer a threat but the point remains that vulnerabilities will always be found in m$ software. So relying on the fellas at one Redmond way to look out for your best interests is a bad plan of action.
 
rh1 said:
Hi
I need some firewall advice, been using Zone Alarm Free, but after updating, it uses 80% to 100% of the Cpu, which just slows my 1PC down:(. Also using Avira. I am running XP home.
Click to expand...

I use Online Armor. See http://www.anti-malware-reviews.com/ for reviews of Online Armor and its sibling package EmsiSoft's Anti-Malware
 
Peon said:
Sasser is no longer a threat but the point remains that vulnerabilities will always be found in m$ software. So relying on the fellas at one Redmond way to look out for your best interests is a bad plan of action.
Click to expand...

Fair point. I'm rather curious as to which percentage of tech oriented people like ourselves use 3rd party firewall software. I'm willing to bet it's less than 30% ;)
 
Lightscribe said:
Go here and run the ShieldsUP tests for "all service ports". https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 Tell us how many ports are open :p
Click to expand...

Remember, I do not run any 3rd party firewall software, only Windows 7's firewall. I chose the test for "all service ports" and this is the result:

Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet — solicited or otherwise — was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.
Click to expand...
 
My firewall is always completed turned off and I've never had problems. Given that I'm always behind a natted router.
 
Comodo works wonders, I love the sandbox feature for unknown apps, which means if you do get infected with something the anti virus doesn't pick up, at least comodo prevents it from abusing your internet connection.
 
I speak under correction, but I think XP home default firewall only block incoming not outgoing.

For Comodo, is it easy to use and will it be easy to uninstall if it is not for me?
 
I use microsofts security essentials and it seems to do the trick, nice and free and light on resources. Perhaps not the /best/ solution but more than adequit behind my amazingly awesomely secure network firewall/router.
I'd say give it a try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X