Comments on: Protect Your PC From Becoming a Zombie Machine Using These Free Security Software http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/ About Computers, Blogging, Making Money Online, Marketing and Interesting Stuff Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: toxicle http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/comment-page-1/#comment-24300 toxicle Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:20:40 +0000 http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/#comment-24300 And yes ... I agree the so called Windows Firewall sucks. To make it worse ... application protection on Vista .. it drove me crazy ... get Blink Personal Edition instead! http://toxicle.org/archives/405/blink-personal-edition/ And yes … I agree the so called Windows Firewall sucks. To make it worse … application protection on Vista .. it drove me crazy … get Blink Personal Edition instead!

http://toxicle.org/archives/405/blink-personal-edition/

]]> By: toxicle http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/comment-page-1/#comment-24299 toxicle Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:13:50 +0000 http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/#comment-24299 I use a combination of Spybot, Ad-aware, Autoruns, Process Explorer, TCPView, HijackThis and a few others not worth mentioning :) I use a combination of Spybot, Ad-aware, Autoruns, Process Explorer, TCPView, HijackThis and a few others not worth mentioning :)

]]> By: Gaman http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/comment-page-1/#comment-24292 Gaman Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:26:37 +0000 http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/#comment-24292 BTW, the previous version of Windows Firewall was called Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) not XP Firewall SP1 BTW, the previous version of Windows Firewall was called Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) not XP Firewall SP1

]]> By: Gaman http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/comment-page-1/#comment-24291 Gaman Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:19:27 +0000 http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/#comment-24291 From the reviews I read Windows Defender for vista does not fare any much better than the current version. I was actually talking about XP Firewall SP1. Never really paid attention to any updates because I've never used it. As you correctly point out they have improved things in XP SP2. But apparently it is still lacking outbound protection. It's not protecting nearly as well as most 3rd party personal firewall solutions and could result in false sense of security. Check these articles. Windows XP SP2 more secure? Not so fast http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-5324906-1.html http://netsecurity.about.com/od/firewalls/a/aa081804b.htm From the reviews I read Windows Defender for vista does not fare any much better than the current version.

I was actually talking about XP Firewall SP1. Never really paid attention to any updates because I’ve never used it. As you correctly point out they have improved things in XP SP2.

But apparently it is still lacking outbound protection. It’s not protecting nearly as well as most 3rd party personal firewall solutions and could result in false sense of security.

Check these articles.
Windows XP SP2 more secure? Not so fast
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-5324906-1.html

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/firewalls/a/aa081804b.htm

]]> By: Azmeen http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/comment-page-1/#comment-24290 Azmeen Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:56:00 +0000 http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/#comment-24290 I can't comment on Windows Defender as I don't use Vista (and won't buy it personally). Therefore, I can't see how it's supposed to be superior to XP's built in firewall. Furthermore, your statement implies that any newer version of a software is always better than its predecessor. Something that's not necessarily true all the time. <blockquote>Some says it does a good job of blocking and hiding your ports from unwelcome probes but it lacks the ability to control programs on your system that are trying to send information out to the Internet. So malicious programs already in your computer could still connect out making it a zombie.</blockquote> I'm sure that is inaccurate. I'm looking at the Windows Firewall settings as I post this. There's an Execeptions tab where you can select which programs or services you'd like to allow access to the internet. <blockquote>It also doesn’t show any information about potential security threats, nor does it give you any means for tracking down their sources.</blockquote> There's also a "Display a notification when Windows Firewall blocks a program" checkbox there. Doesn't that count as a "means for tracking down their sources"? I can’t comment on Windows Defender as I don’t use Vista (and won’t buy it personally). Therefore, I can’t see how it’s supposed to be superior to XP’s built in firewall. Furthermore, your statement implies that any newer version of a software is always better than its predecessor. Something that’s not necessarily true all the time.

Some says it does a good job of blocking and hiding your ports from unwelcome probes but it lacks the ability to control programs on your system that are trying to send information out to the Internet. So malicious programs already in your computer could still connect out making it a zombie.

I’m sure that is inaccurate. I’m looking at the Windows Firewall settings as I post this. There’s an Execeptions tab where you can select which programs or services you’d like to allow access to the internet.

It also doesn’t show any information about potential security threats, nor does it give you any means for tracking down their sources.

There’s also a “Display a notification when Windows Firewall blocks a program” checkbox there. Doesn’t that count as a “means for tracking down their sources”?

]]> By: Gaman http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/comment-page-1/#comment-24289 Gaman Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:10:43 +0000 http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/#comment-24289 Good question. If Windows Defender that comes with Vista isn't good enough, what makes the built-in firewall in XP better? Some says it does a good job of blocking and hiding your ports from unwelcome probes but it lacks the ability to control programs on your system that are trying to send information out to the Internet. So malicious programs already in your computer could still connect out making it a zombie. It also doesn't show any information about potential security threats, nor does it give you any means for tracking down their sources. Good question.

If Windows Defender that comes with Vista isn’t good enough, what makes the built-in firewall in XP better?

Some says it does a good job of blocking and hiding your ports from unwelcome probes but it lacks the ability to control programs on your system that are trying to send information out to the Internet. So malicious programs already in your computer could still connect out making it a zombie.

It also doesn’t show any information about potential security threats, nor does it give you any means for tracking down their sources.

]]> By: Azmeen http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/comment-page-1/#comment-24287 Azmeen Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:44:24 +0000 http://www.sabahan.com/2007/04/12/protect-your-pc-from-becoming-a-zombie-machine-using-these-free-security-software/#comment-24287 Is the built-in firewall in Windows XP not good enough that a third party one should be considered? Is the built-in firewall in Windows XP not good enough that a third party one should be considered?

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