"Alun Jones" <alun@texis.invalid> wrote in message
news:uO5Rp8gqIHA.4904@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Windows Vista's firewall does a thoroughly competent job of preventing
> traffic that you didn't invite.

Which is precisely the job of a firewall--that and nothing more.

--
Steve Riley
steve.riley@microsoft.com
http://blogs.technet.com/steriley
http://www.protectyourwindowsnetwork.com

"Steve Riley [MSFT]" <steve.riley@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ECA3C93C-B6A7-466B-978D-4B985CF6E959@microsoft.com...

> "Alun Jones" <alun@texis.invalid> wrote in message
> news:uO5Rp8gqIHA.4904@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>

>> Windows Vista's firewall does a thoroughly competent job of preventing
>> traffic that you didn't invite.

>
> Which is precisely the job of a firewall--that and nothing more.

Strange - I thought the job of a firewall was to keep pestering the user:

"You've clicked on a link from a stranger who promised you naked Russian
tennis players, but might possibly infect your computer instead, do you
really expect to see naked Russian tennis players?"

.... and then expecting the user to pause for a moment's reflection before
clicking "no, not really, I must have been confused".

Anyone who believes that they will answer those questions correctly (and
then will investigate why an unexpected outbound connection was initiated)
might want something like ZoneAlarm.

Alun.
~~~~
--
Texas Imperial Software | Web: http://www.wftpd.com/
23921 57th Ave SE | Blog: http://msmvps.com/alunj/
Woodinville WA 98072-8661 | WFTPD, WFTPD Pro are Windows FTP servers.
Fax/Voice +1(425)807-1787 | Try our NEW client software, WFTPD Explorer.

Windows One Care is a complete piece of garbage.
You can now be considered a spammer for Microsift Products!
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia


"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

> There is nothing wrong with Vista's built-in firewall.
> However, for maximum protection, consider installing
> a comprehensive anti-virus/security program, such as
> Windows OneCare. You can try it FREE for 90 days.
> http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/default.htm
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Desktop Experience -
> Windows Vista Enthusiast
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "AliceZ" wrote:
>
> I just bought a Toshbia A305 S6825 notebook with Vista Premium sp1 (which I
> was told had good security programs installed) and someone told me yesterday
> that the Firewall on Virsta Premium is not (very) effective. They suggested I
> should use the (new) ZA (which is about 45MB, so they say). They mentioned
> that they used "ShieldsUP" to test Vista Premium's Firewall and found a
> "ping" (don't know what that is!) got through.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions about the Vista Home Premium's
> Firewall? Or is this just too "hi tech" for me to get worried about now since
> I just bought the new Toshiba with Vista Home Premium sp1 and since I am a
> novice at all of this? I am trying to learn so much, as soon as possible,
> which is a bit confusing and daunting
>

AliceZ wrote:

> I just bought a Toshbia A305 S6825 notebook with Vista Premium sp1 (which I
> was told had good security programs installed) and someone told me yesterday
> that the Firewall on Virsta Premium is not (very) effective. They suggested I
> should use the (new) ZA (which is about 45MB, so they say). They mentioned
> that they used "ShieldsUP" to test Vista Premium's Firewall and found a
> "ping" (don't know what that is!) got through.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions about the Vista Home Premium's
> Firewall? Or is this just too "hi tech" for me to get worried about now since
> I just bought the new Toshiba with Vista Home Premium sp1 and since I am a
> novice at all of this? I am trying to learn so much, as soon as possible,
> which is a bit confusing and daunting

Vista's built-in firewall is perfectly adequate for most people.
While it's not quite up to the ease-of-use standards of Kerio or
ZoneAlarm, it has been noticeably improved over WinXP's version.

There are two interfaces for Vistas built-in firewall:

1) A simplified one accessed through the Control Panel that is the only
one most people see. To further supplement this view, Sphinx's Vista
Firewall Control http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/) is a piece of freeware
that makes the Vista Firewall much more easily manageable to the average
user.

2) And the more advanced "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
(WF.msc), accessed via the Start Menu's Administrative Tools folder, for
the experienced user who wants more granular control.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

In article <34EC0591-85B0-4688-90D6-A2A93B1B295E@microsoft.com>,
AliceZ@discussions.microsoft.com says...

> Just wanted to mention that I tried the Shields Up not only on the Toshiba
> notebook with Vista Home Premium Sp1 (with also AVG-AV; AVG-AS, SpyBlaster),
> but also on our WinXPsp2 desktop which has NAV (AVG-AS; AdAware, SpyBlaster)
> and that also showed the same "ping" thing.

The ping is most likely from your router, not your computer. For
example, FiOS routers come with ping response enabled to make it easier
for technicians. It can be turned off.

-bb

"AliceZ" <AliceZ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1A96E465-10D8-4A3B-80D0-05FA04A2A2A2@microsoft.com...

>I just bought a Toshbia A305 S6825 notebook with Vista Premium sp1 (which I
> was told had good security programs installed) and someone told me
> yesterday
> that the Firewall on Virsta Premium is not (very) effective. They
> suggested I
> should use the (new) ZA (which is about 45MB, so they say). They mentioned
> that they used "ShieldsUP" to test Vista Premium's Firewall and found a
> "ping" (don't know what that is!) got through.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions about the Vista Home Premium's
> Firewall? Or is this just too "hi tech" for me to get worried about now
> since
> I just bought the new Toshiba with Vista Home Premium sp1 and since I am a
> novice at all of this? I am trying to learn so much, as soon as possible,
> which is a bit confusing and daunting

The built in Firewall is fine, I'd strongly recommend using that over
nag-ware like Zone Alarm, which probably isn't any more effective and just
is something else to think about, the build in Firewall just works.

Shields Up is from Steve Gibson (security researcher read: journalist), well
known for not having all screws fully tightened when it comes to this sort
of thing.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/
http://www.windowsresource.net/

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