Re: Zone Alarm & Wireless Access Point Security

Ajax <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Within my experience with Zone Alarm, I have watched it block
outgoing connection from various programs that I don't want calling
home whenever they desire. It has stopped programs from trying to act
as a server on the Internet too.

Yes. All the programs like Adobe Reader it better should not block
Try this one:

http://www.dingens.org/breakout-wp.cpp
http://www.dingens.org/breakout-wp.exe

It is proof of concept code to show, that Zone Alarm is very easy to fool.
It uses Active Desktop to phone home, without Zone Alarm cipping in.

On my nephew's computer, his computer games were installing all sorts
of minor malware that was constantly trying to call home. Zone Alarm
not only blocked these programs but it also alerted me to the fact
that I needed to get them off the computer.

Yes. You _think_ that Zone Alarm blocked all traffic, because Zone Alarm
claims to do so. And because it can be fooled very easily, you never will
know. You even don't know if those programs, which were alerted by Zone
Alarm, were additionally "phoning home" successfully, additionally to the
show Zone Alarm made for you.

Secondly, Microsoft has not exactly been a world leader in computer
security. In fact, most MS software has a third party competitor out
there that is better.

Maybe. As a matter of fact, I'm not trusting into Microsoft as a producer
of highly secure systems. This is the reason, why I'm tying this on a
Macintosh keyboard into tin (my newsreader), which is running on a Slowlaris
box.

But it is impossible already in theory, while you're using a Windows kernel
on your machine, no extra software can "secure" the kernel itself. So if
you're not trusting into code from Microsoft, then why are you using Windows?

It will not work to add something to make it secure.

The reason that I selected Zone Alarm is because it consistently is
rated #1 for personal firewalls and because those folks who deal with
security issues daily suggest that we all use a personal firewall.

I'm dealing with security issues daily. Most of the people I know who
are so, too, are loughing about Zone Alarm and the other "Personal
Firewalls". Most of them in the club (I'm doing some work within the
Chaos Computer Club from time to time) even don't understand, why to
talk about this ridiculous stuff at all.

I'm thinking different. I'm thinking, that people have to know, that
"Personal Firewalls" are a big show only.

Can you answer my original question?

I already answered it correctly. If you don't want to see behind the
curtain, you only will see the show effects. Have fun.

But, exactly matching your question: <432bc58d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Yours,
VB.
--
My windows XP is updated for all critical updates including survive pack 2.
Norman Perry in c.s.f
.

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