Let me first say that I don't use the SP2 firewall...I have a cable internet connection and I use the Kerio Personal Firewall. Here's an article on the SP2 firewall http://netsecurity.about.com/od/firewalls/a/aa081804b.htm and if you Google "sp2 firewall" you'll come up with a ton of other articles. The major gripe about the SP2 firewall is that it does not monitor out-bound traffic (something that the 3rd party firewalls do well) and I'll think you'll find that, although the SP2 firewall is a step in the right direction, the concensus of opinion is that it is no substitute for something like ZoneAlarm, Norton, Kerio, etc. With regard to your mother's situation (I have an 82 year-old father), you really need to set the machine up and work with the WinXP SP2 for a while to get the feel of it (SP2 has some other features...the Security Center, not allowing downloads unless permission is given, automatic update, pop-up blocker, etc.). You may want to experiment with the SP2 firewall, try 3rd party firewalls, etc., and then decide on what's best given your mother's circumstances.
Thanks for the reference. I have been reading everything on windows firewall and it sounds like it might be better to go with a third party software. I have sent my brother a copy of my Norton Logs for one day and he was shocked. He is a genius with computers but real casual about security, bet he changes his ways now. We think she may have a trial of norton security. I told him when he was configuring the computer to get it but he can't remember. We will probably just buy Norton if she doesn't have it, since that is the one I know the best and can help her over the phone with if she gets confused. She lives about two hours away from me, but she is closer to my brother and I know he will figure it out without a problem . Thanks again for your help.
I use dialup so I can not answer your question directly. However I use ZoneAlarm 2.6.362 [an old third-party firewall] which provides me with a reasonably good amount of security.
I believe that Tom's remarks about out-going data are significant here.
Because of this, I believe that you should look into anti-spyware -malware handlers like
AdAware and
SpyBot, as well as firewall handlers, because programs like these will help identify--and eliminate--some of the major abusers of the out-going data. Used on a very regular basis, with an understanding of their settings, they will prove to be welcome additions to your mom's enjoyment of the web. If your mother's Internet use is not broad in nature, then AdAware will be sufficient. It is also probably the easiest to maintain.
Thanks everyone. I will be putting spybot and adaware on my Mom's computer. I just learned about it my self a few weeks ago. Someone on one of these boards educated me and helped me install it. I do like them and it is something my brother and I can take care of when we are there. I am going to look into the other third party firewall mentioned here. Simple is best when it comes to my mother. I seem to be the most security concerned person in my family and friends only because before I retired my agency would terminate your employment if you did not follow all security procedures. When I don't know I ask. I do appreciate all of this information. Thank You.
ZoneAlarm is extremely easy to set up and would not require any intervention on your mothe'rs part if she uses only certain programs to access the internet.
All you need to do is set up her computer with ZoneAlarm and tell it to allow her internet browser access, as well as any email clients she may use. I doubt she would use any other programs. I guess you should also allow any antivirus programs and adaware and spybot to access the internet for updates.
Once those programs are set up to access the internet, you can instruct her to deny access to any other program that tries to access the internet.
Sharon: When I got a broadband internet connection, the cable co set it up for me. They installed a Motorola Surfboard SB4200 cable modem, which has a button on top that one can disconnect from the internet when not on the computer. I shut my computer down and turn off the modem, when I'm not on the computer. I've got a free version of Sygate Personal firewall and really like it. When I installed it 2 years ago, it was the only one that displayed all ports to be in a stealth mode on Steve Gibson's site. I run NAV 2004 also and got it set to do automatic scans once a week and automatic up-dates. Some say I'm too careful by turning off everything, but I've yet to get a virus or trojan. When I turn the computer on, I turn the modem on, and by the time windows loads, I have access to the net. Maybe some of this info will be usefull to you.
Learn something new everyday. My cable modem is old about 5 years. I did not know they had them out where you could disconnect from the internet. That is something I will really check out. I am calling my cable company tommorrow. I will also check out with my Moms cable company also. She did have a trial version of Norton internet Security so we are going to use that for a while until we can check out all these other recommendations. Her cable company is coming next week. No you are not being too cautious. I shut down my computer everynight. I have had some good recommendations on Zone Alarm also. Thanks to everyone that has posted.
ortleeb
575 Posts
0
August 26th, 2004 12:00
Hi Sharon,
Let me first say that I don't use the SP2 firewall...I have a cable internet connection and I use the Kerio Personal Firewall. Here's an article on the SP2 firewall http://netsecurity.about.com/od/firewalls/a/aa081804b.htm and if you Google "sp2 firewall" you'll come up with a ton of other articles. The major gripe about the SP2 firewall is that it does not monitor out-bound traffic (something that the 3rd party firewalls do well) and I'll think you'll find that, although the SP2 firewall is a step in the right direction, the concensus of opinion is that it is no substitute for something like ZoneAlarm, Norton, Kerio, etc. With regard to your mother's situation (I have an 82 year-old father), you really need to set the machine up and work with the WinXP SP2 for a while to get the feel of it (SP2 has some other features...the Security Center, not allowing downloads unless permission is given, automatic update, pop-up blocker, etc.). You may want to experiment with the SP2 firewall, try 3rd party firewalls, etc., and then decide on what's best given your mother's circumstances.
Tom
Sharon p
23 Posts
0
August 26th, 2004 19:00
Tom
Thanks for the reference. I have been reading everything on windows firewall and it sounds like it might be better to go with a third party software. I have sent my brother a copy of my Norton Logs for one day and he was shocked. He is a genius with computers but real casual about security, bet he changes his ways now. We think she may have a trial of norton security. I told him when he was configuring the computer to get it but he can't remember. We will probably just buy Norton if she doesn't have it, since that is the one I know the best and can help her over the phone with if she gets confused. She lives about two hours away from me, but she is closer to my brother and I know he will figure it out without a problem . Thanks again for your help.
Sharon
xley
312 Posts
0
August 27th, 2004 12:00
I use dialup so I can not answer your question directly. However I use ZoneAlarm 2.6.362 [an old third-party firewall] which provides me with a reasonably good amount of security.
I believe that Tom's remarks about out-going data are significant here.
Because of this, I believe that you should look into anti-spyware -malware handlers like AdAware and SpyBot, as well as firewall handlers, because programs like these will help identify--and eliminate--some of the major abusers of the out-going data. Used on a very regular basis, with an understanding of their settings, they will prove to be welcome additions to your mom's enjoyment of the web. If your mother's Internet use is not broad in nature, then AdAware will be sufficient. It is also probably the easiest to maintain.
xley
scoobydooby
2 Intern
•
495 Posts
0
August 27th, 2004 13:00
According to the PC world article http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,115939,pg,2,00.asp ;
Trend Micro's PC-cillin Internet Security's bidirectionnal firewall appears to require the least user intervention, and may be the easiest to use.
Sharon p
23 Posts
0
August 27th, 2004 14:00
luphy
70 Posts
0
August 29th, 2004 01:00
ZoneAlarm is extremely easy to set up and would not require any intervention on your mothe'rs part if she uses only certain programs to access the internet.
All you need to do is set up her computer with ZoneAlarm and tell it to allow her internet browser access, as well as any email clients she may use. I doubt she would use any other programs. I guess you should also allow any antivirus programs and adaware and spybot to access the internet for updates.
Once those programs are set up to access the internet, you can instruct her to deny access to any other program that tries to access the internet.
oldyeller
216 Posts
0
August 29th, 2004 17:00
Sharon:
When I got a broadband internet connection, the cable co set it up for me. They installed a Motorola Surfboard SB4200 cable modem, which has a button on top that one can disconnect from the internet when not on the computer. I shut my computer down and turn off the modem, when I'm not on the computer. I've got a free version of Sygate Personal firewall and really like it. When I installed it 2 years ago, it was the only one that displayed all ports to be in a stealth mode on Steve Gibson's site. I run NAV 2004 also and got it set to do automatic scans once a week and automatic up-dates. Some say I'm too careful by turning off everything, but I've yet to get a virus or trojan. When I turn the computer on, I turn the modem on, and by the time windows loads, I have access to the net. Maybe some of this info will be usefull to you.
Joe
Sharon p
23 Posts
0
August 29th, 2004 18:00
Learn something new everyday. My cable modem is old about 5 years. I did not know they had them out where you could disconnect from the internet. That is something I will really check out. I am calling my cable company tommorrow. I will also check out with my Moms cable company also. She did have a trial version of Norton internet Security so we are going to use that for a while until we can check out all these other recommendations. Her cable company is coming next week. No you are not being too cautious. I shut down my computer everynight. I have had some good recommendations on Zone Alarm also. Thanks to everyone that has posted.