Re: Avast or Zone Alarm using proxy server?

From: Martin (vk2umj_at_yahoo.com.invalid)
Date: 02/15/05 

Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 23:44:59 +1100

"Gerald Vogt" <vogt@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:4211561c$0$975$44c9b20d@news2.asahi-net.or.jp...
> Martin wrote:
>> "Gerald Vogt" <vogt@spamcop.net> wrote in message
>> news:420ffad6$0$979$44c9b20d@news2.asahi-net.or.jp...
>>>Lars-Erik Østerud wrote:
>> BUT, ZA still does more than Windows FW. Sorry, I have to agree with
>> Lars-Erik here.. I have previously used Windows SP2 Firewall only and
>> still encountered problems with things getting in, odd programs accessing
>> the 'net, etc. Switching to ZA Pro solved all that and more. I know you
>
> You already have "odd programs" on your computer. Why don't you fix that
> problem and get rid of the "odd programs"? Wouldn't that be the right
> approach. You seem to fix symptoms instead of fixing the cause. If you
> have malware on your computer, it is just to late. Hoping that your ZA
> does prevent contact to the outside for these programs is just not really
> solving the problem.
>

But it seems that your "odd programs" would mean anything more than just
Windows! How many people out there are happy to run only Windows, no extra
programs, no games, nothing loaded 'just for fun', just so you can be 100%
sure that the Windows Firewall will work OK? What planet are you on? I am
not stupid enough to load something on that is nothing more that malware or
spyware, but that doesn't mean that I want to allow open access to
everything else loaded on my damn computer! Not unless *I* say it is OK!
Unless Windows is the *only* thing loaded, it seems to me that the Windows
Firewall is a little out of its depth...

Let me see, you really want me to trust Microsoft Windows to provide a
security solution for problems that usually result because of faults in,
umm, well, Microsoft Windows?????? Hmm......

Windows XP SP2 Firewall provides an excellent firewall for newcomers until
they install something better. It is better than nothing at all, and for
some 'dial up' users that do not much on the internet, maybe 5 minutes every
few days to get mail, then I guess it is all you would need or want. Yes,
and excellent Firewall for those people..

The rest of us simply like a little more protection and extras, like warning
if *any* mail program tries to e-mail more than (x) number of messages at
once (i.e. like a virus may try), or warning if something new is trying to
gain access to the internet (yes, maybe not fool proof but still a lot more
that WFW offers)...

>> can never be 100% sure of stopping everything, but ZA sems to stop more
>> than WFW ever did...
>
> Again, ZA may does stop something, but it is usually not the bad guy who
> manages it anyway.

So what makes you believe that Windows Firewall would be any different?
Let's see, how many security issues have resulted due to exploits of faults
in Windows over the years??? It seems that almost all of our problems would
be solved by not using Windows, but you want us to accept that Windows can
supply the very best Firewall available??? HAHAHA!!!

>
>> I also like the fact that when setup correctly ZA lets you 'control' what
>> programs have internet access whereas Windows FW just lets them loose!!
>
> Have you ever tried to circumvent it? This, too, is pretty easy to
> circumvent depending on the firewall in place. And in particular teens (as
> you mentioned your daughter) are extremely creative and quick to learn how
> to do it as experiences from PCs in youth centres show.
>
> Gerald

Well, like anything these days it is impossible to stop everything, isn't
it. A burglar alarm only makes noise, and deadlocks only means a burglar
will find another way in. A combination of measures helps to prevent
problems, which is why I don't rely solely on ZA to provide all my security,
but it is also why I would NOT rely solely on Windows Firewall to provide
firewall services!

Let us agree to disagree, shall we? No doubt everyone has their own beliefs
and preferences......

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