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Thread ID: 74628 2006-11-29 20:29:00 Are firewalls neccessary? Wendy123 (9776) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
503044 2006-11-29 22:34:00 Try Sygate 5.5 (www.oldversion.com 43)

What Make and Model is the ADSL Modem
KiwiTT_NZ (233)
503045 2006-11-30 02:40:00 It's a DSL-302G

Wendy
Wendy123 (9776)
503046 2006-11-30 04:07:00 I have been using W98SE for years on dial-up, with no firewall, and never had a problem. W98 doesn't seem to be a target for nasties. rumpty (2863)
503047 2006-11-30 08:25:00 A firewall helps to prevent exploitation of services you may not even be aware you're running. They are a useful layer of defense against outside attack.

The biggest difference you can make to security is not using a firewall or an antivirus, antispyware or any other "for sale" measure. Better security gains than any of these can be gained simply by running as a non-administrator account for your daily activities. This simple change will render anti-malware products almost completely obsolete and will make your firewall much more effective against inside attacks (i.e. from spyware).
TGoddard (7263)
503048 2006-11-30 08:37:00 Better security gains than any of these can be gained simply by running as a non-administrator account for your daily activities.

I agree with this wholeheartedly - but unless you have chosen a very good password for your Administrator account, it can be cracked in minutes!
johnd (85)
503049 2006-11-30 09:33:00 Better security gains than any of these can be gained simply by running as a non-administrator account for your daily activities

while i totally agree, afaik win98 dosn't have an admin account and the profile system it is has is very weak.

for nt/w2k/xp non-admin accounts would be good. unfortunatly no home user uses and afaik its a pain to use.

hopefully vista will bring in some much needed linux basics ;)
tweak'e (69)
503050 2006-11-30 11:18:00 "I have been using W98SE for years on dial-up, with no firewall, and never had a problem. W98 doesn't seem to be a target for nasties."

I have been in charge of a modest computer that belongs to someone else for the last year and I agree with the above statement, with the following proviso's:

Opera is always used as the browser, two young women use it and they do not go to dangerous sites because of my instructions. So far, fingers crossed, no malware etc.
zqwerty (97)
503051 2006-11-30 11:43:00 I have win 98 SE and had my PC serviced last week, the tech guy told me that the problem was my zonelab firewall was corrupted which he uninstalled.
When I showed my concern he told me that I didn't need a firewall and that if I run spybot a couple times a week that would sort it.

Is this good advice or should I reinstall a firewall?

Thanks
Wendy :-)
The guy is a complete F Wit. Any Tech that tells you that you don't need a firewall is a complete idiot even if you are on dial up. If he says that how did he know that ZA was corrupted.
Unbelievable
SpyBot just checks for malware programs and does nothing about port blocking or stopping those nasties trying to get into your PC
I will never forget walking the Milford track once and these two guys that worked at Camera House in Wellington had all the gear and were asked by one walker if her 35ml roll of film had been used so he started to pull it out to have a look.:rolleyes:
mikebartnz (21)
503052 2006-11-30 11:55:00 I have been using W98SE for years on dial-up, with no firewall, and never had a problem. W98 doesn't seem to be a target for nasties.
Without a firewall how do you truely know. Ignorance is bliss.
mikebartnz (21)
503053 2006-11-30 11:59:00 A firewall helps to prevent exploitation of services you may not even be aware you're running. They are a useful layer of defense against outside attack.

The biggest difference you can make to security is not using a firewall or an antivirus, antispyware or any other "for sale" measure. Better security gains than any of these can be gained simply by running as a non-administrator account for your daily activities. This simple change will render anti-malware products almost completely obsolete and will make your firewall much more effective against inside attacks (i.e. from spyware).
While I appreciate that you are knowlagable Win98 doesn't have that option and even under XP I have my doubts about "almost completely obsolete".
mikebartnz (21)
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