Re: Firewalls

From: Shenan T. Stanley (shenans_tiredofspam_at_my_hotmail.com)
Date: 06/17/03 

Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:31:29 -0500

Krystal <> wrote:
> Do I need to set up a firewall on my computer to protect
> my information from being stolen if I send it out on the
> internet?

Firewalls are good things.
If you have a good router, you have one already.
The Windows XP ICF (if enabled) protects you from INCOMING traffic only.

So here are some things you should do to your system all the way:

The normal Windows ICF configuration can keep your computer from being
attacked easily. Click on Start -> Help & Support and look up "enable ICF"
and you will find the following:

To enable or disable Internet Connection Firewall

1. Open Network Connections
2. Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to
protect, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this
connection.
3. On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select one of
the
following:
 - To enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), select the Protect my
computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from
the Internet check box. - To disable Internet Connection Firewall, clear
the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this
computer from the Internet check box.

Notes

 - To open Network Connections, click Start, point to Settings, click
Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.

 - You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the
Administrators group in order to complete this procedure. If your computer
is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from
completing this procedure.

 - If you clear the Protect my computer and network by limiting or
preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box, the firewall
on your computer is disabled, and your network is vulnerable to intrusions.

 - You should not enable Internet Connection Firewall on virtual private
networking (VPN) connections or on client computers because ICF will
interfere with file and printer sharing. ICF cannot be enabled on the
private connections of the Internet Connection Sharing host computer.

GET LAVASOFT ADAWARE:

1. Go to http://tinyurl.com/ee44
2. On the right side, under "Download From", click on the link (one of
them.)
3. Your download should start in a minute.. You can read the instructions
on the page if it does not. 4. Select to SAVE this file and I suggest for
ease - you save it to your desktop. (Click on the desktop icon on the
lefter you select "Save" and then click on the "Save" button in the bottom
right of this window.) 5. Once the download is complete - close ALL windows
until all you see is your start bar and desktop and icons there. 6. Locate
the file AAW6.EXE on your desktop (it may just be AAW6 on your
desktop) and double click on it.
7. Click "NEXT"
8. Click "NEXT"
9. Click "NEXT"
10. Click "NEXT" (there's a pattern here. hah)
11. Click "Finish"
12. Find the AAW6.EXE (it may just be AAW6 on your desktop) and click on it
ONCE and then hold down your SHIFT key and press your DELETE (DEL) key. When
it asks if you are sure, click "Yes". 13. Now - find the "Ad-aware 6.0" icon
on your desktop - should look like a hand with a red circle/slash over it
and a number 6. Double click on this icon. 14. Once it loads, in the bottom
right of the window you will see a "Start" buttonand right above that the
words "Check for updates now". Click on those words.
15. Click on "Connect"
16. If it tells you there is a New Reference File Available, just Click OK
then Click on Finish. If it tells you No updated components available, just
click OK then Click on Finish.
17. Now click that Start button.
18. Click on "Next"
19. Wait for it to finish scanning your system.... This could take 60
seconds or it could take 20 or more minutes.
20. When it is done, click on "Next"
21. Make sure all items found are checked for removal then click "Next"
22. It will warn you how many objects are about to be removed.. Click "OK".
23. Once removed, close AdAware.

Do you have an Antivirus software? Is it updated with the latest AntiVirus
definitions? If you answered "No" to either (or "I don't Know") then you
need to get one. Either go buy a commercial product (McAfee,
Norton/Symantec AntiVirus, etc) or grab a free AntiVirus software off the
web. Some choices of a free AntiVirus software to install on your system:

AVG 6.0 - http://tinyurl.com/eod
avast! 4 - http://tinyurl.com/ct9p
AntiVir - http://www.free-av.com/

Download one of your choice (if you do not already have one) and install it.
Keep it updated. Personally I think Norton (Symantec) AntiVirus is well
worth the purchase.

Also - if you feel you still need more firewall protection, choose one of
the free options of that as well:

http://www.free-firewall.org/

Choose one from that site. The difference between those and the ICF windows
has? Well, those likely block (protect yourself) from OUTGOING traffic as
well as INCOMING and they likely have a lot more options. Will they protect
you from Popups anymore than the ICF? Yes and No. Some come with pop-Up
killers as well, but it's not the Firewall doing the blocking - it is the
Popup killer built into the firewall program... 

-- 
Shenan Stanley
"Just trying to help"