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Thread ID: 36580 2003-08-13 12:05:00 Windows XP Firewall v Zone Alarm Free Edition Smurf (506) Press F1
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167529 2003-08-13 22:43:00 > Can you provide any proof that they will not interact when both trying to block the same port? You are unlikely to know about it until its too late.

The only "proof" I can provide are the firewall tests that I have done on the internet at Steve Gibson's site and at another site. Some people say that SG's site is not to be relied on though.......

If those tests are not sufficient proof that my computer can safely resist being bombarded then I don't know how else I can find out, except to wait until it is "too late". Our knowledge is only gained from what we are told by others who have "tested" things and unless there are reports from many independent testers then there is never any guarantee that what we read is correct.

I found it very interesting that in the last issue of Consumer Kerio got a rather low rating as a firewall compared to others and scored just 2/10 for outgoing protection (Norton Personal Firewall scored 1/10 :D). How they tested I do not know but as users of these products all we can do is cross our fingers and hope we can trust the tests that give them good reports.
[pre]BTW Consumer rated the Win XP firewall last. :D
Susan B (19)
167530 2003-08-14 05:45:00 Did anyone do a Consumer Test Report on the Consumer Testers though? ;) -=JM=- (16)
167531 2003-08-14 10:37:00 theres a good section in the latest Consumer Mag'

um Http://www.grc.com

click on sheilds up. In hot spots click on Shields UP tes then Test My Sheilds. yeh its all there
Beef (1415)
167532 2003-08-14 10:43:00 the general rule of thumb is running dual firewalls is BAD. however XP's built in firewall can actually be of use if configured correctly. there is floating around somewhere a guide on tweaking the XP firwall. it can run ok with most other firewalls but there is little point in doing so and requires tweaking so it dosn't block legit apps. tweak'e (174)
167533 2003-08-15 06:59:00 > Did anyone do a Consumer Test Report on the Consumer Testers though? ;)

Good point, JM .

"Our test was carried out by an independent laboratory in Australia, using specialist security software . "

Hmmm say no more . ]:)
Susan B (19)
167534 2003-08-15 11:23:00 Australians, interesting.

You'd think Consumer could have support NZ, or is it one of those cases whereby they bought the article from the Australian Consumer Institute?

I'd like to see some proper explanations as to how they tested. It might be that Zone Alarm was installed first tested. Then it was uninstalled which never works properly leaving some of Zone Alarm active while the other firewalls were tested.
-=JM=- (16)
167535 2003-08-15 21:25:00 Hmmm GRC's ShieldsUp utility has been taken offline temporarily - he reckons it'll be back up in an hour or so after some testing Greg S (201)
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