Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

September 11, 2008

I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

Just continued after Windows option appeared.

Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the Windows

product is just as good.

What do you think?

Thanks

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

>I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

>Just continued after Windows option appeared.

>Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the Windows

>product is just as good.

>

>What do you think?

>

>Thanks

I've not used a 3rd party firewall since SP2 was released and to this

day have not had anything come in or go out. I just the built-in

firewall. ZoneAlarm used to give decent details when I used it eons

ago but I'm told it's not so good anymore.

You're going to get a dozen or so responses stating a hardware

firewall now. Just watch. ;-)

- Thee Chicago Wolf

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

On Sep 11, 3:19 pm, Thee Chicago Wolf <.@.> wrote:

> >I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> >Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> >Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the Windows

> >product is just as good.

>

> >What do you think?

>

> >Thanks

>

> I've not used a 3rd party firewall since SP2 was released and to this

> day have not had anything come in or go out. I just the built-in

> firewall. ZoneAlarm used to give decent details when I used it eons

> ago but I'm told it's not so good anymore.

>

> You're going to get a dozen or so responses stating a hardware

> firewall now. Just watch. ;-)

>

> - Thee Chicago Wolf

Hardware firewall is the most secure method of firewalling any

network. But at thousands of $$ for most firewall hardware that is

not NAT based, this is not worth it for small home networks.

Windows XP SP2 firewall will only provide incoming protection. Third

party software firewall line Zone Alarm will also control outgoing

applications.

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:06:34 -0400, _Who wrote:

> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the Windows

> product is just as good.

> What do you think?

For the average homeuser, the Windows Firewall in XP does a fantastic job

at its core mission and is really all you need if you have an 'real-time'

anti-virus program, [another firewall on your router or] other edge

protection like SeconfigXP and practise safe-hex.

The windows firewall deals with inbound protection and therefore does not

give you a false sense of security. Best of all, it doesn't implement lots

of nonsense like pretending that outbound traffic needs to be monitored.

Activate and utilize the Win XP built-in Firewall; Uncheck *all* Programs

and Services under the Exception tab.

Windows XP: How to turn on your firewall.

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/firewall/xp.mspx

Read through:

Understanding Windows Firewall.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

Using Windows Firewall.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/winfirewall.mspx

Deconstructing Common Security Myths.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2006/05/SecurityMyths/default.aspx

Scroll down to:

"Myth: Host-Based Firewalls Must Filter Outbound Traffic to be Safe."

Exploring the windows Firewall.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/06/VistaFirewall/default.aspx

"Outbound protection is security theater¡Xit¡¦s a gimmick that only gives the

impression of improving your security without doing anything that actually

does improve your security."

In conjunction with WinXP SP2 Firewall use:

Seconfig XP 1.0

http://seconfig.sytes.net/

Seconfig XP is able configure Windows not to use TCP/IP as transport

protocol for NetBIOS, SMB and RPC, thus leaving TCP/UDP ports 135, 137-139

and 445 (the most exploited Windows networking weak point) closed.

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

I agree completely with Thee Chicago Wolf. And, as far as smlunatick

comment goes, you don't have to check what goes out if nothing gets in.

"_Who" <CalWhoNOSPAN@roadrunner.com> wrote in message

news:%23DnqZeBFJHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

> Windows product is just as good.

>

> What do you think?

>

> Thanks

>

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Zone Alarm is the last thing that I would ever want installed on any of

my computers. The Windows firewall is fine and while I am not averse to

using third party firewalls Zone Alarm is not one of the ones I would

ever use or want on my computer.

John

_Who wrote:

> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the Windows

> product is just as good.

>

> What do you think?

>

> Thanks

>

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

I use free ZoneAlarm on my laptop. It works ok. I put it on to try it out

and then I was going to try a different one so I tried to take it off and I

couldn't get rid of it. I searched and found all kinds of information about

getting it off and nothing worked. So I reinstalled it to put it back

working and I haven't messed with it for several months. I will try again

someday.

My daughter has a laptop that she never takes anywhere and I just left the

windows one to work and it works fine.

"_Who" <CalWhoNOSPAN@roadrunner.com> wrote in message

news:%23DnqZeBFJHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

> Windows product is just as good.

>

> What do you think?

>

> Thanks

>

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

On Sep 11, 4:23 pm, "Unknown" <unkn...@unknown.kom> wrote:

> I agree completely with Thee Chicago Wolf. And, as far as smlunatick

> comment goes, you don't have to check what goes out if nothing gets in."_Who" <CalWhoNOS...@roadrunner.com> wrote in message

>

> news:%23DnqZeBFJHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

> > I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> > Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> > Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

> > Windows product is just as good.

>

> > What do you think?

>

> > Thanks

Things do get it. I found "spywares" that come in, "hidden" to the

user.

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

You will eventually find that any program scanning outgoing mail/messages

only cause problems.

"smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:6aea3ef0-cf7a-4f20-9c61-0454c253993c@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

On Sep 11, 4:23 pm, "Unknown" <unkn...@unknown.kom> wrote:

> I agree completely with Thee Chicago Wolf. And, as far as smlunatick

> comment goes, you don't have to check what goes out if nothing gets

> in."_Who" <CalWhoNOS...@roadrunner.com> wrote in message

>

> news:%23DnqZeBFJHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

> > I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> > Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> > Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

> > Windows product is just as good.

>

> > What do you think?

>

> > Thanks

Things do get it. I found "spywares" that come in, "hidden" to the

user.

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

>Things do get it. I found "spywares" that come in, "hidden" to the

>user.

Yes, those things do get in but no firewall in the world is a

replacement for anti-virus and anti-malware protection as a

supplimental.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

I'd like to thank each of you for the help.

Thanks

"_Who" <CalWhoNOSPAN@roadrunner.com> wrote in message

news:%23DnqZeBFJHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

> Windows product is just as good.

>

> What do you think?

>

> Thanks

>

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Performing a Clean Uninstall of ZA

http://zonealarm.donhoover.net/uninstall.html

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]

===============

*-343-* FDNY

Never Forgotten

===============

jusme wrote:

> I use free ZoneAlarm on my laptop. It works ok. I put it on to try it out

> and then I was going to try a different one so I tried to take it off and I

> couldn't get rid of it. I searched and found all kinds of information about

> getting it off and nothing worked. So I reinstalled it to put it back

> working and I haven't messed with it for several months. I will try again

> someday.

> My daughter has a laptop that she never takes anywhere and I just left the

> windows one to work and it works fine.

>

> "_Who" <CalWhoNOSPAN@roadrunner.com> wrote in message

> news:%23DnqZeBFJHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

>>I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

>>Just continued after Windows option appeared.

>>Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

>>Windows product is just as good.

>>

>>What do you think?

>>

>>Thanks

>>

>

September 11, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

John John

I have used ZA free for many years and haven't had any problems with it

other than it being rather intrusive. I recently switched over to the

Windows firewall and it tests out clean on Steve Gibson's "Shields Up" site

so I intend to keep using it.

Out of curiosity, why do you feel so strongly against ZA since it seems to

me to work fine?

===================================================

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:ObH$uRCFJHA.3840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Zone Alarm is the last thing that I would ever want installed on any of

my computers. The Windows firewall is fine and while I am not averse to

using third party firewalls Zone Alarm is not one of the ones I would

ever use or want on my computer.

John

_Who wrote:

> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

> Windows

> product is just as good.

>

> What do you think?

>

> Thanks

>

September 12, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

IMHO it's nothing but a bloated bag of bugs, the newsgroups have always

been full of posts about problems caused by this product.

John

bobster wrote:

> John John

>

> I have used ZA free for many years and haven't had any problems with it

> other than it being rather intrusive. I recently switched over to the

> Windows firewall and it tests out clean on Steve Gibson's "Shields Up" site

> so I intend to keep using it.

>

> Out of curiosity, why do you feel so strongly against ZA since it seems to

> me to work fine?

>

> ===================================================

> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

> news:ObH$uRCFJHA.3840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Zone Alarm is the last thing that I would ever want installed on any of

> my computers. The Windows firewall is fine and while I am not averse to

> using third party firewalls Zone Alarm is not one of the ones I would

> ever use or want on my computer.

>

> John

>

> _Who wrote:

>

>>I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

>>Just continued after Windows option appeared.

>>Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

>>Windows

>>product is just as good.

>>

>>What do you think?

>>

>>Thanks

>>

>

September 12, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

Thank you, I will try it again.

"MowGreen [MVP]" <mowgreen@nowandzen.com> wrote in message

news:eIltNmDFJHA.1460@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Performing a Clean Uninstall of ZA

> http://zonealarm.donhoover.net/uninstall.html

>

> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]

> ===============

> *-343-* FDNY

> Never Forgotten

> ===============

>

> jusme wrote:

>

>> I use free ZoneAlarm on my laptop. It works ok. I put it on to try it

>> out and then I was going to try a different one so I tried to take it off

>> and I couldn't get rid of it. I searched and found all kinds of

>> information about getting it off and nothing worked. So I reinstalled it

>> to put it back working and I haven't messed with it for several months. I

>> will try again someday.

>> My daughter has a laptop that she never takes anywhere and I just left

>> the windows one to work and it works fine.

>>

>> "_Who" <CalWhoNOSPAN@roadrunner.com> wrote in message

>> news:%23DnqZeBFJHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

>>>Just continued after Windows option appeared.

>>>Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

>>>Windows product is just as good.

>>>

>>>What do you think?

>>>

>>>Thanks

>>>

>>

September 12, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is justas good

_Who wrote:

> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the Windows

> product is just as good.

>

> What do you think?

>

> Thanks

>

WinXP's built-in firewall is usually adequate at stopping incoming

attacks, and hiding your ports from probes. What WinXP SP2's firewall

does not do, is protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you (or

someone else using your computer) might download and install

inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all, other than

to check for IP-spoofing, much less block (or at even ask you about) the

bad or the questionable out-going signals. It assumes that any

application you have on your hard drive is there because you want it

there, and therefore has your "permission" to access the Internet.

Further, because the Windows Firewall is a "stateful" firewall, it will

also assume that any incoming traffic that's a direct response to a

Trojan's or spyware's out-going signal is also authorized.

ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better than WinXP's

built-in firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are

free versions of each readily available. Even the commercially

available Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall is superior by far,

although it does take a heavier toll of system performance then do

ZoneAlarm or Sygate.

Having said that, it's important to remember that firewalls and

anti-virus applications, which should always be used and should always

be running, while important components of "safe hex," cannot, and should

not be expected to, protect the computer user from him/herself.

Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and every computer user to learn

how to secure his/her own computer.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot

September 12, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

I was wondering what scanning outgoing meant.

Thanks for the complete reply.

"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message

news:OqrvtfPFJHA.224@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> _Who wrote:

>> I've been using ZoneAlarm since before Windows had a fire wall.

>> Just continued after Windows option appeared.

>> Now I'm wondering if there is any reason to use ZoneAlarm or if the

>> Windows product is just as good.

>>

>> What do you think?

>>

>> Thanks

>

> WinXP's built-in firewall is usually adequate at stopping incoming

> attacks, and hiding your ports from probes. What WinXP SP2's firewall

> does not do, is protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you (or

> someone else using your computer) might download and install

> inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all, other than to

> check for IP-spoofing, much less block (or at even ask you about) the bad

> or the questionable out-going signals. It assumes that any application

> you have on your hard drive is there because you want it there, and

> therefore has your "permission" to access the Internet. Further, because

> the Windows Firewall is a "stateful" firewall, it will also assume that

> any incoming traffic that's a direct response to a Trojan's or spyware's

> out-going signal is also authorized.

>

> ZoneAlarm, Kerio, or Sygate are all much better than WinXP's built-in

> firewall, and are much more easily configured, and there are free versions

> of each readily available. Even the commercially available Symantec's

> Norton Personal Firewall is superior by far, although it does take a

> heavier toll of system performance then do ZoneAlarm or Sygate.

>

> Having said that, it's important to remember that firewalls and

> anti-virus applications, which should always be used and should always be

> running, while important components of "safe hex," cannot, and should not

> be expected to, protect the computer user from him/herself. Ultimately, it

> is incumbent upon each and every computer user to learn how to secure

> his/her own computer.

>

> --

>

> Bruce Chambers

>

> Help us help you:

> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>

> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

>

> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

>

> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand

> Russell

>

> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

> killed a great many philosophers.

> ~ Denis Diderot

September 12, 2008

Re: Any reason to use ZoneAlarm or is the Windows fire wall is just as good

I was wondering why out-going traffic needed monitoring!

Thanks for the thorough reply