How good is Windows XP firewal?

[yalamo]

I need some advice.

I recently bought a new computer with Windows XP, I have cable high speed internet access, which is on a good part of the time. Do I need another firewall besides the XP firewall that I enabled? It's only one computer - no network.

If anybody can tell me of their experience, I'll be very thankful.

 

[SYAR2003]

Need don't need . Thats a matter of opinion that
is widely discussed .
Everyone has to make their own decitions based on own preferences and how tight you accept/don't accept your
pc should be secured.

I can say what i have done at my home pc connected to broadband to secure it.

Broadband router between DSL modem and PC
This has hardware firewall buildt in (NAT).
Set it up in stealth mode.

On the PC
Realtime antivirus program
Realtime spyware detector(SpywareGuard)
spybot set to immunize
spywareblaster to stop malicious active-x .

xp firewall
Here's some words on that

http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031112.gtgreinernov13/BNStory/einsider/

As for software firewalls
The free ones most used by people is
Zone alarm
Sygate
Kerio
Tiny
search for
free+personal+firewall

Search on google for the words
firewall+review
To get some indipendent reviews that can help you decide.
Many prefer the free ones i've listed.

 

[SYAR2003]

One more thing.

test your pc for vunerability running the xp-firewall
or others of course to check their effectivness .



at grc.com
Use the shields up feature to probe your ports
or
security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym


Hopes this helps on your descition.
Cheers SYAR

 

[EvilTwinOfAtrus]

It seems like the Windows Xp Firewall is OK, but I like the option to be able to see and control a firewall, so I use Zone Alarm.

 

[dakota81]

I've had my machine directly connected to a dsl line with no active virus scanners, zone alarm, nothing just xp firewall and I didn't run into any problems. The best option for maximum security is to get a router/firewall they run for about $75, and the advantage of that is obviously the firewall is not on your physical machine.

So you'll most likely be fine with just xp firewall, and if you are directly connected, be sure to disable the messenger service; go to the control panel, then administrative tools, then services, and find messenger and disable it. It's a service that you will never use yet will become an unbelievable pain if you leave it running & are connected directly to the internet.

 

[SYAR2003]

Xp-firewall and other software firewalls
are only as good as the OS is .
If the OS have things like buffer-over-run flaws
in it's software there is always possibilities to be hurt
by hackers/trojans etc.

(We all know Windows XP/2000 has had it share of that)

 

[pmonett]

One essential issue I have with the XP firewall is the fact that it does monitor incoming packets with average efficiency, but it does not monitor outgoing packets at all.

In other words, if a trojan/worm/virus does manage to slip by, it will be perfectly able to go about its nefarious activities and XP will just sit by while you unwittingly participate in the next massive DDOS attack on whatever is the target of the day.

I prefer a full firewall, and I advise you to go to

http://www.firewall.com

and select one.
I use Tiny Personal Firewall, which has a free version that is perfectly capable of handling your basic needs and gives 100% success on all security test web sites I have found up to now.

Pascal.

 

[yalamo]

Thanks a lot for all your answers. For the time being, I'm sticking with the XP firewall, since all I have is a single computer online. After going through DOS 5, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and Windows 98, I have learned not to annoy the Microsoft OS with new installations too often - you never know what's going to happen. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Thanks again

 

[linney]

For help in configuring your XP firewall correctly.

http://www.gamespyarcade.com/helpers/workshop/xpfirewall/