Re: Ask EU - firewalls


"Kate Brown" <elvira@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:twffWlIkKd+EFwMF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In article <44f9c79a$0$3215$ed2619ec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, dated
Sat, 2 Sep 2006, Marjorie Clarke <dontusethisaddess@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote
At the moment I'm relying on the Windows XP firewall. I use AVG
anti-virus,
the free version, and am very happy with this (thanks to the various
umrats
who recommended it). I'm wondering whether I ought to have a proper
firewall, and if so whether AVG is the one to go for. It would mean
upgrading to a paid product, though.

Has anyone tried this package? Any problems or caveats?

I did use the free Zone Alarm for some months, but wasn't happy with it.
For
one thing, every time there was an update, I had to register for another
free trial, which entailed constant prompts and reminders that the paid
version would be better. Worse than that, after one such update my
computer
slowed to a a crawl and I had to uninstall the whole program. Even then it
wasn't right, and eventually I had to get a computer bod to come and fix
it.
So I'd rather keep clear of Zone Alarm, and in any case it seems to make
sense to use the same package for both AV and firewall, so they won't
argue
with each other.

Or is it OK just to rely on the Windows firewall? Is it just a matter of
time till something awful happens?


Are you connected directly to the Internet or via a router of some kind?
I've been told that if you are behind a NAT enabled router, this acts as a
reasonable firewall against people hacking in (though not necessarily
against trojan-type thingies calling out, though a good anti-virus ought
to stop those). And if you have a recent router, it may well have a
firewall built in. Would be interested myself in knowing if this is all
true!

No, I don't have a router. I suppose this would be an alternative
precuation, but I'm not at all sure about the pros and cons.


--
Best wishes,

Marjorie


.

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