Re: I am sick of windows firewall

V wrote on 21 Mar 2006 19:27:16 GMT:

> Spack wrote:
>
>> louise wrote on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:00:09 GMT:
>>
>>> I've been using Sygate for several years (don't know what to
>>> use instead, even now), and it definitely asks before it
>>> connects for an update. For example, Adobe Reader always
>>> wants to update - I set Sygate to stop it. Several other
>>> programs I run want to go check for updates all the time and
>>> I don't want them to use resources and keep my waiting.
>>
>> Why don't you just turn off the option to install updates? In
>> Acrobat Reader 7, go to Edit > Preferences, choose the Updates
>> option at the left, set it do not automatically update at the
>> top. Don't rely on a personal "firewall" to block things for
>> you - what happens on the day your PFW isn't running? Killing
>> a running process is a simple thing to do.
>>
>>> And - perhaps more importantly, I certainly don't want them
>>> to download and install their updates unless I decide I
>>> need that update. And then, I want to install one update
>>> and make sure it hasn't affected machine performance,
>>> before I download another. Essentially, I want to know
>>> what's going on. Even if the intentions are good, if there
>>> is a negative result, a bug, a conflict between programs, I
>>> want to know what was just changed/installed/updated.
>>
>> So go through each program and turn off automatic updates. If
>> you've got a program that doesn't allow you to do so, be wary
>> of that program.
>
> That is why I felt that all of you must be techy.
>
> Meaning that you guys are able to keep your pc problem free, and
> it doesn't need reformat/reinstall of xp in years.

Not true. I had to reinstall XP just a few weeks. Granted, it was due to my
primary hard drive failing as opposed to infection - but I don't install
software downloaded from the net unless I trust it's source. So far 11 years
of PC use on the net and not a single infection.

> Otherwise you would have known that reinstalling an O.S. can
> cause almost a heart attack. We count our breaths while xp is
> installing itself. We can breath calmly only when we see it
> over, and system running ok. And it is a lengthy process.

I've never had an XP install fail, and I've done at least 50. There is no
need to count your breaths. You don't have to sit and coax it to install,
and pray to the dark gods that it'll work. And it's only lengthy if you
don't prepare, and run old hardware. A slipstreamed XP CD with SP2 and
current patches takes very little to prepare (and a Google search will
provide instructions on how to do this), and saves a lot of time.

> Thus, when you install 30 or 50 programmes, you want to give
> minimum attention to each program by settings their internals.
> That can wait. You first want to bring your pc to the running
> position as earlier.

30 to 50??? What on earth are you installing? I'm a techie and a games
player, and I'm pretty sure even with all the utilities I install I haven't
reached that number yet. Blindly installing everything you find is the
biggest mistake you can make. Install only what you need.

> Hence, I just install all the software without bothering for
> their updating, connecting to net or whatever activities. Then,
> when I go online, and each software tries to connect to net, ZA
> dutifully prompts me and then, I first refuse the permission for
> that software, and then I go to individual software and set
> their options not to connect to net, if such an option is at all
> available.
>
> Boy! try seeing the world from the sights of us have-nots also,
> at least some times.

I do, daily. I work in support as well as admin. I find it a real
eye-opener, and I'm tempted with one guy who brings his personal laptop in
regularly for repair to just tell him to give up on computers - even with a
software firewall and virus scanner he still manages to get it infected with
all sorts of crap in a very short time. Relying on any software to prevent
something happening is a mistake. Education is much more beneficial, and in
the long term will prevent you having to keep reinstalling your system.

>>> If Windows FW doesn't do that - then what would I need it
>>> for? I have a Linksys NAT, SP1 router - doesn't that
>>> perform the same function better?
>>
>> Windows FW can be used to supplement your router. What happens
>> if you misconfigure your router and allow all ports incoming,
>> or ports on which you have running services on your desktop
>> PC? What happens if your friend brings their laptop around and
>> plugs it into your router, and it's infected with a worm that
>> then spreads to your desktop PC? Never make assumptions, never
>> rely on one thing that could easily be bypassed.
>>
>> Dan
>
> I don't have router. Just a DSL modem.

Then I suggest you invest the small amount it costs for even a simple DSL
router if you care about your PC. The day you run that little joke app from
a friend that kills your Zonealarm panacea will the day you wished you had.
And I hope when you reinstall your PC you have an XP SP2 install CD, or you
patch it to at least SP2 before connecting that modem - otherwise you might
as well just turn your PC off and find something else to do.

Dan
Received on Mon May 1 01:00:58 2006