Firewalls

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Ok, another computer question from cousin Elios.
I reformated my harddrive, reinstalled only some main programs and My Norton Firewall and Antivirus.
I just updated and installed Windows XP Service Pack 2. I noticed that is has a new firewall with it.
My question is, of what I've got, which is better? Norton or the windows firewall?
And I am correct in assuming you shouldn't run both, right?

 

Windows XP SP2 included a new firewall because the old one was not turned on by default. It was meant to add security to those home systems without any other protetion whatsover, the SP2 firewall certainly didn't want to rival any commercial product. According to this test

http://www.flexbeta.net/main/articles.php?action=show&id=76

you're better off staying with your Norton Firewall.

Moreover, I think the firewalls - unlike virus scanners - don't care if there are other programms of the same type installed and running. After all, a firewall doesn't check system integrity or validity of files. All it does is (hopefully) blocking in- and outgoing traffic and closing unneeded open ports.

 

Almost anything beats the build-in firewall Windows has -speaks something about the general quality MS upholds (only BlackIce is worse, according of our local magazine).

Personally, I can recommend ZoneAlarm; haven't let me down even once... yet.

 

I definitely agree with Wirhe. I have also had good experience with ZoneAlarm and I would never rely on Microsoft.

 

Am also using Zonealarm. Just had to turn of control of outgoing traffic, is it really did give me a headache trying to play online....

 

The firewall included in XP SP2 is a very bad piece of news.

Check this out!

Its better you stick to Norton's firewall.

 

I'd rather just stick with both. Maybe three...

 

That is not necessary and I think it eats your resources.

 

I actually bought a router today, with firewall. So now just let those little nerds just try and get into my computer!

I'll be keeping Norton installed, but I probably don't really need it.

 

Ummm...the hardware based firewall in routers aren't enough. If you ask anyone who knows anything about internet security, they'll tell you that your router's firewall is the first line of defense, you also need a software based firewall on each of the machines connected to a network.

In your case Elios, I would kill your subscription to your Norton utilities, and download the Zone Alarm firewall...the free version is one of the best I've ever used. Also, download the free version of Spy Sweeper. It runs in the background ensuring that not a single piece of adware, spyware, ect, gets on to your computer.

I've had both running on my computer for 2 months now, and every time I use Spy Sweeper to check for any bad stuff on my computer, it comes up empty-handed...I even used AdAware right after, just to make sure Spy Sweeper didn't miss anything...it didn't.

Oh, and get rid of SP2...I don't have it, I don't need it, my computer is a locked vault with those two programs.

 

Most of the tests that I've seen put Norton Firewall as the best around with ZoneAlarm in a very close second.

I've got a hardware firewall up on my router and NPF 2004 running and I've never had any spyware ever get onto my computer, nor have any hackers been able to get in (I get a few dozen attacks daily).

 

Good idea. I still run Zone Alarm with my router, because, while a router may make your computer invisible on the web, it really doesn't let you know when other programs installed on your PC are trying to get access to the outside (at least mine doesn't). Watch out for evil programs such as MS media player that want to "inform" MS which MP3s and other media you have installed on your PC. Is it really any of their business anyway?