Most of the DSL modems come with firewall software included. Now I know I'll
hear some flack about this one... but here goes any way. Switch over to the
Norton Internet Security package. It has most of the software protection you
will need. It's firewall runs well with the hardware firewall used by most
of the modems. Then install the Microsoft Anti-Spy software. It's a little
cumbersome to run, but it's always active function is quite handy. Combine
this with something like Ad Aware and you have pretty much covered all the
bases. Just remember to do your scans regularly and keep your definitions up
to date and you should be fine.
Gene
On MSN and Yahoo: guystevens@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I think you're best thing would be to find the manuals or the help files for the software you do have and read them from start to finish.
Then, if you still have time, go google for a web site article that talks about security for home computers.
You have perhaps 3 basic worries:
1. viruses, which you're familiar with. You can't catch a virus unless you execute a program that someone gives you in some way, and if you've got antivirus software with regular updates to its files of viruses, it should stop it from executing.
2. spyware. This is much like a virus; you can't catch it unless you execute a program someone gives you. Unlike a virus, it doesn't necessarily try to do damage to your pc; it tries to extract some information from your pc, and send it back to the creator. This is where a software firewall can help, but not a hardware firewall.
What the spyware does is attempt to open a connection over the internet to deliver its information. A software firewall on your pc can block this, and ask you if it's ok to let program XXX connect to the internet. This is where it gets complicated, because even for knowledgeable folks, it's hard to know how to answer. Your best course is to always answer "no", but don't check the checkbox that says "never ask me again". That's because you'll eventually learn that you sometimes need to answer "yes". For instance, when the windows automatic update program needs to check for updates, you need to let it do so. You'll eventually learn what program it is, and when it runs, and you'll eventually say "yes" and "don't ask me again".
This kind of constant questioning is bothersome, and frustrating, because you often don't know how to answer. You could go out on the internet and research each program name each time it asks you.
By doing this, you could possibly prevent some spyware from getting your info on to the internet. I admit, it could be a lot of effort, for a rather small bit of extra security, especially if you run anti-spyware software checks every day.
3. You have to worry slightly about people from the outside making their way on to your pc; either to steal information, or just to do malicious harm, or to "hijack" your pc as part of some larger internet hacking project. This is where either a hardware or a software firewall will help prevent them from making contact with your pc. Even the free XP SP2 firewall is good for this kind of protection.
Go out and find some web tutorials that cover all this better. At home I have both a hardware and software firewall, I have both anti-virus and anti-spyware software running constantly, and I have made changes to some default xp settings to make my pc more secure.
In order to do some things that I want (such as use a BitTorrent client), I've had to make security compromises; so, I make backups of my system, and rotate them, so if I had to I could fall back to a backup if I got hurt by something. If I had my credit card number stolen by some spyware I'd be in trouble, so I'm going to start using special one-use only credit card numbers offered by my credit card company.
I have a wireless router, so I have to do special security for that as well. It's a never-ending battle, and you can't just ask someone for a quick bit of info to make it all safe; I'm afraid you have to spend some time educating yourself.
hth,
Chip
Chip Orange Database Administrator Florida Public Service Commission
Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (850) 413-6314
(Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)
________________________________
From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judith Bron Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 11:44 AM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: DSL question
Chip, I have Norton corporate edition and software spyware. Is that enough or should I download a software firewall when I get DSL? Are there instructions that would help me operate this software so that I don't disable any of the things I already have running? Thanks, Judith
----- Original Message ----- From: Chip Orange <mailto:Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 11:36 AM
Subject: RE: DSL question
It's not an either or type of decision; they do different jobs for the most part.
A hardware firewall usually takes no effort to setup, but does the least to protect your pc. A software firewall catches many more potential problems than a hardware firewall, but takes a lot of effort to setup and understand. It's theoretically possible it could be disabled, but I've never seen a report of it actually happening to anyone.
The free firewall that comes with XP SP2 is kind of strange in that it is a software firewall that acts like a hardware firewall (that is, rather poorly, but is little trouble to operate). The *real* software firewalls really can be a *lot* of trouble to operate and understand; it's very easy to set them up incorrectly so that they allow spyware to communicate, or you stop your valid software from performing some automatic function such as self-updating.
MS should have put more effort into solving this issue, and I guess they are with their beta version of their anti-spyware tool. This will eventually catch spyware without making folks deal with the complexities of a software firewall.
Chip Orange Database Administrator Florida Public Service Commission
Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (850) 413-6314
(Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)
________________________________
From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of chevelle Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 10:24 PM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: DSL question
Hi, I would say if you are going to dsl or cable, it is definitely a good idea to have a firewall. YOu can still with the Norton firewall that you have or go with a hardware firewall built into a router. I would suggest going with a hardware firewall. For one thing today's spyware, and other bad programs are able and do disable a software firewall. They can't disable a hardware firewall. People will probably say you should have both, but it is up to you. I am only using a hardware firewall. Also since I've gone to a hardware firewall I don't have as many hastles as I used to.
----- Original Message ----- From: Judith Bron
<mailto:jbron@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 3:00 PM
Subject: DSL question
Hi Friends, We are looking into getting DSL. Here are my questions: 1. How do I notify everyone in muy address book that my email address has changed? 2. Do I need a firewall or any other software with DSL? I have Norton corporate edition, windows 98 and Jaws 5.1. Thanks, Judith
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