Re: Is XP Firewall Effective?

From: MacKenrick (MacKenrick_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 10/04/03 

Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 22:35:12 -0700

Thank you for the information Steve. It sounds like good advice. I do have
one question about your recommendation "harden their Internet Explorer
settings to secure the internet Web Content Zone while using the trusted
zone for often used
safe sites". I have a vague idea what you mean by that but am not sure how
to do it or what settings to use. If it wouldn't be too much trouble could
you tell me how to do it and what settings I should use. Thanks, Mac

"Steven Umbach" <n9rou@comcast.com> wrote in message
news:rrpfb.211451$mp.131369@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
You are in pretty good shape with the D-link and using XP ICF firewall. ICF
firewall is very good at what it does and is very easy to configure - you
just
enable it. The firewalls such as Kerio, Sygate, etc offer the benefit of
also
being able to manage outbound traffic, more logging/reporting, and even
being
able to map firewall rules to an application. The benefit is that they can
prevent users from using unauthorized internet applications and offer
protection
to your computer from being remote controlled by a trojan. The disadvantage
is
that they are more difficult to configure and often so confusing to the
novice
user that they end up with a misconfigured firewall.

In my opinion most users are adequately protected with the ICF firewall,
especially if the user also uses a virus protection program that also scans
emails and keeps virus definitions up you date, keeps current with critical
updates at Microsoft Update, and harden their Internet Explorer settings to
secure the internet Web Content Zone while using the trusted zone for often
used
safe sites. A powerful firewall alone is not enough to secure a computer
from
the internet. --- Steve

https://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/security/setup.asp

"MacKenrick" <MacKenrick@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OZ58W6giDHA.2420@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> I have two computers at home that are connected to the internet with a
> D-Link router that has it's own Firewall. I am running Windows XP Home on
> the computers and use the firewall that comes with it. I have had several
> people tell me that the XP firewall is not very effective and that I
should
> install something like Sygate or Zone Alarm. Should I get another
firewall
> program or stay with the Windows XP Home firewall? Thanks for the help.
> Mac
>
>

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