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Thread ID: 18425	2002-04-24 22:32:00	Debate for the day off - firewalls	Guest (0)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
45489	2002-04-24 22:32:00	Think about this, people. I have Zonealarm, and ever since I put it in I have trouble on sites like e-bay and trademe. I have a cookie-free zone, which makes many sites unhappy to deal with me. I have had NO reported attacks. So, I have the hassle with some web sites, the extra app running in memory, and no perceivable benefit. Why shouldn't I just biff ZoneAlarm and return to my happy life? robo.	Guest (0)
45490	2002-04-24 22:47:00	I have not found a firewall that can be run on a local computer yet that does not interfere with networking in some way.......... The closest so far is Outpost but that still blocks some communications....but I didn't find it interfering with any websites + the add blocking was a bonus. So now I just live and prey with no firewall.......I just reset my router on a regular basis to get a fresh IP	Guest (0)
45491	2002-04-24 22:49:00	Good thinking Robo. I have done exactly that. Sometimes we fill our computers with a lot of stuff of dubious benefit. I have also dumped Norton SystemWorks/Utilities which I felt were creating problems I would not otherwise have had. A clean, mean machine with only the programs you use is far more efficient. I have noticed no ill-effects after getting rid of these utility programs. Cheers Richard	Guest (0)
45492	2002-04-24 22:59:00	Hi robo, Lets kick off the debate. I have the free version of Zonealarm plus the VisualZone Report Utility, and really I wouldnt be without them. I am really surprised you havent had bouts of concentrated port probings. These seem to come sporadically from souces in Asia, Taiwan, China, Korea. Many of them from universities, and since the addresses are frequently not hidden are most probably from computers whose owners are unaware they are infected. I have also had probings from IP addresses listed by Steve Gibson some time ago as being infected computers. When these 'attacks' occur, they are like every 5-10 seconds or so. Sometimes logging off then on again a bit later seems to avoid the problem. It would seem these bots are probing through blocks of allocated IP numbers. Zonealarm is also good at telling you if an email attachment is a virus. I dont use Zonealarm as a cookie filter, the free version doesnt have that capability, I have used Cookie Crusher for a long time and that works well, it's set up to just allow cookies from selected sites. Cheers	Guest (0)
45493	2002-04-24 23:08:00	Terry You might be right. Could just be that I haven't bothered figuring out what to do. But I haven't been 'probed' to my knowledge. I do have the ADSL router, which I think largely does the job for me anyway. Has anyone every had things turn to shite when someone has attacked? Like actual proof that it happened? robo.	Guest (0)
45494	2002-04-24 23:53:00	robo, which ver of ZA? assumeing you have ZAP3 then turn off all the ad blocking/cookie control etc ver3 is a little problematic. is za set to show alerts? also if you are behind a router you won't see any incoming alerts. i'd be very surprised if you where not getting bumped, even by innocent net traffic. 2 main beifits of firewalls- stealth and outwould control/application control. the amount of apps that i have caught trying to access the net (spyware expecialy) when they have no need to is unreal. don't forget about trojens and backdoors. its also not only about securing yourself but also protecting everyone esle from yourself ie stop yourself from unknownly attacking someone else. most people who have ever said they don't need firewalls, sicurity updates etc soon change their mind when their system gets raped by a malicious site/person. ignorance is bliss. for those who like to play in the 'fun' zones of the net, firwalls are not only a good idea but in some cases a requirement to access some things. the site port scans you and if it gets a reply(ie no stealth firewall) it will not let you access the site/service.	Guest (0)
45495	2002-04-25 00:16:00	Okay, concede you are right on that point tweak'e. I do get the chance to deny outgoing crapola. Especially when junk mails are trying to get pics etc, and apps are trying to do whatever it is they do. I deny just about everything. Right fascist in that respect. robo.	Guest (0)
45496	2002-04-25 02:10:00	Have used ZoneAlarm for quite some time and have never had any trouble with it not even on TradeMe. Quite frequently get attacked sometimes up to 20 or so times by the same address. Use VisualZone report as well, a very usefull utillity as you can submit to Dshield. I keep hearing about people having trouble with ZA and really can't work out why. Robo have you got the show alert popup window unchecked.	Guest (0)
45497	2002-04-25 02:40:00	Yes, it is unchecked, but log is empty (pretty much) too. Maybe I need to change to ATGuard. I'll sniff around for it. robo.	Guest (0)
45498	2002-04-25 13:29:00	Another thing. Recently if my brother hadn't been running a firewall (ZA) he would not have known that he had a virus as his virus checker had not picked it up but ZA was behaving strangely and luckily he got me there before he lost his HD. He had 3 viruses 2 via MS Messenger and one via Email.	Guest (0)
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