Re: Outbound protection for router

From: Stupified (neosadist@hotmail.com)
Date: 01/13/03 

From: "Stupified" <neosadist@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 18:18:48 -0600

"Bob" <bob1324@xs4all.nl> wrote in message
news:jgl32vkhajhr5voetk0a3no9fmro14nrj3@4ax.com...
> Hi,
> I went from my computer from Win 98se (dutch) with modem to Win 98se
> with router to Win XP with router, all with different software
> firewalls. One time or the other I lost my connection to internet and
> I had to format and reinstall everything. Even Win XP 3 times in 3
> weeks.
> With ipconfig and release/all I get a winsock error. Has this to do
> with DHCP? Does anybody now what to do about this error?
> Even bought a new ethernet card; didn't help.
> Getting tired of everything I decided to rely on my hardware firewall
> + XP firewall for inbound protection; I hope to keep my internet
> connection this way.
> Does somebody has suggestions for outbound protection?
> I don't want a software firewall.
> Bob

I say go to http://rr.sans.org and read about tightening windows security.
Winxp has some of the same interfaces as win2k. I'd go into the control
panel to the admin tools to the local security policy (if it exists) and
import the file called hisecws (i think, may differ slightly). This is a
security template for a high security workstation. If you're not using your
computer with others on the router on a LAN, this is a great way to improve
security. Other than that, the other security ideas apply:

1. Don't share files with people you don't know (kazaa, etc). Someone
estimated that 50% of all virus-spreading happens over peer to peer.
2. Use good antivirus, and keep it updated.
3. Keep your operating system updated: use windows update.
4. If you don't need something, uninstall it. For example, if you don't use
netmeeting, uninstall it.
5. Backup your stuff! It's funny to me that people lose their stuff when
they must reinstall their operating system, and the bought expensive
firewall and antivirus (good idea, but), yet didn't buy a simple zip disk
drive to backup their stuff on (or a cd-rw or something, anything...)
6. The microsoft security analyzer recently suggested that people keep their
internet settings in the security zones to all at 2nd highest setting
(slider), with restricted zone set to the highest possible.

There are other good ideas, but just stay informed and learn more. True,
it's a home computer, and you don't need ultra-high security, but it also
sucks to have to reinstall everything so often. By the way, norton
utilities / system tools is good, because it cleans out your windows
registry and associated operating system stuff. I'd get it. I love it to
death. I've had the same installation of win2k pro for like 6 months at
least....

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Guide to secure installtion of IIS 5
    ... don't forget a well-configured firewall. ... Do not put the computer onto the network or the Internet until after the ... Follow the instructions for hardening Windows and IIS at ... Install all service packs and security fixes from Microsoft and otherwise ...
    (microsoft.public.inetserver.iis.security)
  • Re: Security discussion regarding hubs, firewalls, anti-virus and Vista Security
    ... router does this automatically; they only permit traffic that's in reply to some previous outbound request. ... What security protection should I expect from: ... a software firewall ... The reason I ask this is that I have a Linksys wireless hub with a WEP ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.security)
  • Re: 3 LAN, 2 WAN - 2 LAN use 1 WAN, last LAN uses other WAN
    ... Internet over different paths after that. ... With a single LAN Router for all the segments, ... Then each "business" uses the Firewall they are supposed to use for the ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.networking)
  • RE: security question
    ... You connect to the internet after your OS has booted up. ... security item is in place, only then you logon to internet right. ... By then your personal firewall would have loaded anyway. ... seconds of the network services thus reducing the window size. ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Re: AdAware, SpyBot S &D, etc. + leave PC connected to Internet
    ... >It will be a while I get the router and do that. ... >> labelling on the box to be sure it has firewall features. ... name, like Disconnect from Internet, and click Finish. ... generally talking only about "critical patches" that affect security. ...
    (comp.security.firewalls)