Computer help forum: do i really need firewall?

just a computer, as i've said norton firewall made a mess of my pc and likes to freezes my games and pc.


i want to know if zonealarm free edition is better than norton firewall, i don't really want another firewall ater the pervious bad experience, but i guess i should have one, right?

win xp sp2 fiirewall is what i use and have no trouble with it
truth is it sounds like you have start up programs problems as well
norton firewall is a pain but what i heard is more then that got to winpatrol.com download free program and clean up the mess in your start up and ie helpers
msconfig will do this but is safer and easyer with winpatrol

Hell, yes!

Now that that's out of the way, I'd recommend the Zone Alarm freebie. It's easy to configure - in fact, it'll pickup most of your permissions automatically - and it's highly effective.

Paul

Windows Firewall only protects you from incoming.

Zone Alarm protects you from incoming and out going. If you have a program that's already on your computer, using the Windows Firewall, the program will always be allowed to access the internet. With Zone Alarm, you have to give it permission to allow incoming and out going connections.



Hope this helps.


Rick

It's called "Internet Lock" and can be engaged by RIGHT clicking on the ZA icon, choose "Engage Internet Lock". Still, there should be very few times to completely block the internet traffic.. ZoneAlarm blocks attempted intrusions automatically and if you choose, you can turn OFF the alert warnings of those routine attempts. Program access alerts can't be turned off and shouldn't be, but once you've got program access set, you won't be bothered again anyway.

By the way, if you try ZoneAlarm, I suggest NOT using the most recent 6.5 versions as they're causing a few problems for quite a few users, including me.. Instead, try installing the previous 6.1.744.001 version from the Zonelabs link below:

http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/information/zap/releaseHistory.html

Hope this helps.

Grif

Click HERE

WinXP's built-in firewall is adequate at stopping incoming attacks,
and hiding your ports from probes. What WinXP SP2's firewall does not
do, is provide an important additional layer of protection by informing
you about any Trojans or spyware that you (or someone else using your
computer) might download and install inadvertently. It doesn't monitor
out-going network 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 or Kerio are much better than WinXP's built-in firewall,
in that they do provide that extra layer of protection, are much more
easily configured, and have free versions readily available for
downloading. Even the commercially available Symantec's Norton Personal
Firewall provides superior protection, although it does take a heavier
toll of system performance then do ZoneAlarm or Kerio.

Click HERE for additional info,scroll down to question 14.

I use Zone alarm with no complaints.

Tom

You don't NEED a firewall just like you don't NEED a computer. However, it's one of those things you SHOULD have if you want to help keep things running smoothly.

Maybe one day we'll all wake up and life has turned into a giant Disney movie where nothing bad ever happens. Until that day firewalls help keep a few of the nasties at bay.

It's becoming big business in the organized crime world to create and sell "botnets". Or systems that have been compromised with some sort of remote control program installed on them. These systems are then used as the enforcement of protection rackets. The owner of some site like eBay either pays this crime syndicate the sum of money they asked or else they use these botnets to flood the server with requests effectively knocking it offline. Without a firewall, you could easily become one of the people whose systems are a part of these botnets.

You'll just have to learn to live with the constant popup messages firewalls generate. As annoying as they are, the alternative can be far worse. You just need to resist the urge to start clicking the "Accept" button any time some message pops up. Such a practice is bound to put a gaping hole in your firewall's already meager protection, that it's effectiveness is neutralized.

If it bothers you, you should take the time to go through the entire catalog of programs you have installed on your computer, and make a decision as to whether or not they need access to the Internet. Then configure the firewall to deny access to anything not on your list. Later, you can always add more programs manually if you need Internet access.

It's a simple matter to just use XP's firewall if you're using XP, which is sufficient for the majority of people, or to get a router that has a firewall built into the firmware.

And in the end, a little performance loss is the price you pay to avoid being an unwitting accomplice to organized crime and other equally distasteful things. Like I said, maybe one day we'll all wake up and the world has turned into a giant Disney movie where nothing bad ever happens. Until that day arrives, a firewall is a useful tool for helping keep some of the undesirables at bay.

..I'm curious, why ask our opinions then? It appears like you've already got your mind made up about firewall usage and regardless of what points are made here, that's what you're going to do.

Good luck in your endeavor.

Grif

finally decided to use a firewall on windows xp sp2, i picked zonealarm, install it, and guess what?



it won't run, why? that's becasue it gives me an error saying i don't have enough rights to launch it.



intresting indeed, i am the only user of my own computer, i am the admin and i have access to all the features in windows xp, so why oh why won't zone alarm run?



i'm very very disappointed with firewalls, very.




just when i muster up all the courage i have and install this product dispite the pervious saddening experience, and BOOMM!!!!! ZA blows up right in my face and tells me that I DON"T HAVE ENOUGH RIGHTS to install this crap, you know what? forget about firewalls, i'm through, this is the last straw!!!


it's not that i don't gave firewalls a chance, but the fact that i give them TOO MUCH chances, even ended up losing EVERYTHING becasue of it, even so , i continue to give my trust to it, and all i get it's deception, frustration and anger.



i hope you now all understand why i have to struggle for what appears to be a simple decision for so long, it is becasue i have been decived, and enough is enough, i'll take my chances without a firewall, thank you.



i hate firewall

Do it this way...(You'll want to print this out for reference.)

First, restart the computer into Safe Mode using the instructions in the link below:

How To Start In 'Safe Mode'

Once in Safe Mode, click on Start-All Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Restore. When the SR window loads, click on "Restore my computer to an earlier time". When the next "Calendar" window loads, click on one of the "bold" dates which is just previous to your problem, possibly yesterday, then click on "Next" and follow the prompts to restore the compute back to an earlier time.. It will require a reboot. The process is fairly easy and should work fine in your situation.

Once the computer is restored back, because the "admin" error is a common issue, then revisit Donna's link in Virus & Security Alerts to the fix for your problem.

Here is the link to Donna's post in the Virus & Security Alert's forum:

It seems a known issue with ZoneAlarm

Hope this helps.

Grif

Sir, I am positive that your problems do not stem from firewalls. Firewalls are an absolute necessity in today's Internet. Anyone NOT running one is putting his computer and all his personal data up for grabs by anyone who has the knowledge necessary to access it.

If you are using your computer to:

1) Access Game Networks
2) Access Porno sites
3) Access "warez" sites (all illegal)
3) Access sites in the former Eastern Block countries
4) Download so-called "free" music or other "free" downloads (neither of which are ever free, since
a) SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE spent his OWN resources to create the music or software in the first place, so he should be compensated for it.
b) It is almost always illegal to download it without the author's permission
c) There are ALWAYS consequenses for our actions, either in this life, or the next, so we ALWAYS pay in some way, either with our money, or with our time, freedom, or life.

They instead stem from a total lack of knowledge about:

1) The English language and its grammar.
2) Computers in general
3) Firewalls specifically
4) PROPER Operating System installation and configuration (for example, an improperly-acting piece of software SELDOM blows up your entire system, as you claim both Symantec (which you call "Norton") and ZoneAlarm did.
5) Operating System and software maintenance
7) The absolute NEED to keep your Operating System and software properly maintained on a DAILY basis.
8) The presence of bad people on the Internet (many more than one might expect).
9) A lack of respect for the people who CREATED "your" computer and software.
10) A lack of respect for your machine itself.
11) A lack of respect for the Constitution of the United States, which gives you the FREEDOM to use your computer with little government interference.

They also stem from
1) A lack of self-respect and respect for others
2) A lack of self-control
3) A lack of understanding of just what you are doing at any one time
4) Possibly, drug and alcohol abuse.
5) Having an abusive character
6) An inability to listen to the advice others give you, or an inablity to apply it correctly.
7) Quite possibly, a need to get laid by a lady

Tell us sir, do you also hate antivirus products? Do you hate to PAY for decent products? Have you even investigated which are the best antivirus packages?

If your answer is "no" to ANY of the three questions about antivirus packages, then you NEED to spend a few dollars (probably about $39US), and purchase a product like NOD32 ( from http://www.nod32.com ), which is widely respected by security personal everywhere as the best Antivirus product in circulation for the general public, and seek advice on how to properly configure it for your surfing habits and machine.

NOTE, sir: I have NOT "accused" you of anything. I have given you my opinion, after having read several of your responses in this particular discussion thread. Only you, sir, can decide for yourself if my words are cogent (that is, they apply to you). In other words, if the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn't, then just simply ignore it.

I assure you, I am not trying in any way to be accusatory, or hurtful. But sometimes, the truth stings, especially when it finds its mark in a man. Sometimes, the truth will set you free, as a great Man once said. And sometimes, one must endure the pain of the truth before it will set one free.

Donald L McDaniel

You have made up your mind, but, I am wandering about your expertise. I suspect you have something going on other than firewall problems. Thousands of users have zonealarm and other firewalls installed without trouble. With that said, why don't you leave the firewall installed and running except for the time that you MUST run the games, at which time you can disable it and after the game restart the firewall.

I had a similar chain of events happen to me (thought luckily without Norton involved), and decided it was better to get rid of Zone Alarm. Even with this program, which is lauded as one of the better firewalls out theer, I found my patience wearing thin as numerous games were frozen because of a Zone Alarm warning. I'm now hiding behind my router firewall, and scanning frequently with anti-virus and spyware programs to make up for it.


> Comicfan, please don't make comments based on your assumptions or interpretations. This forum is for computer help and not pyschological examinations.