STORM2K

My new computer came with a 3 month trial to McAfee so I used it for 3 months. It ran out and I didn't extend it but got a different anti-virus program. I haven't gotten another Firewall yet but do I need one? Doesn't XP have a built-in one, and is that good enough? I have used Sygate in the past and had no complaints with it...I just didn't know if I needed another one.

Also, the McAfee had a Spam Killer. I didn't much care for it because it blocked emails from friends, etc because they had pictures or something and it was a while before I even realized a lot of my good emails weren't getting through. Meanwhile, some Spam was still making it through. Is there a good anti-Spam program or is the delete button the best choice?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

ez Armor by etrust is what I use

http://www3.ca.com/Solutions/Solution.asp?id=271

Works great

I just use the firewall that came with windows XP and it seems to be working fine for me. Your email program doesn't have a spam filter? So many of them do these days.

CajunMama wrote:I just use the firewall that came with windows XP and it seems to be working fine for me. Your email program doesn't have a spam filter? So many of them do these days.

Yeah, I think my extra ones have it but my main one, through RoadRunner, is in Outlook Express. I don't think it has a spam filter.

Yeah, I think my extra ones have it but my main one, through RoadRunner, is in Outlook Express. I don't think it has a spam filter.

Road Runner has no spam filter by default that does anything. Spam Killer is pretty good for Windows. Lavasoft's AD Aware is good for spyware, and the only Windows antivirus I recommend for clients who are running Windows servers is Norton Professional Edition. The others all have flaws, and we're talking clients with expensive servers, and delicate information.

Here's a linky on Spam Killer 4.0
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,5155,00.asp

Thanks for the tips. I do have Ad-Aware. Spam Killer doesn't get very good reviews though and I think that's what came with McAfee. I didn't care for it. There just may not be a good one out there.

In that link there are some listed that work better. Try visiting the sites, and see if any of them appeal to ya. In truth, none of them work very effectively. One really needs an e-mail client that "learns" what is spam, and what isn't. Most people's e-mail client is the weak point, as they use Outlook, or Outlook Express, and both don't learn to block spam.

Zone Alarm is free and is an EXCELLENT firewall. I certainly wouldn't trust the Winblows XP firewall alone.

I certainly wouldn't trust the Winblows XP firewall alone.

Agree strongly. XP firewall is a "back end" firewall only. It stops incoming traffic by default, but in terms of outgoing, and IM and port selectivity, it is useless. Zone Alarm is good. The pro version is worth the money as an upgrade. Norton Firewall is also good as a consumer firewall.

Actually one of the best options is the firewall on a wireless router, as options can be configured independently, and customized.

I had Zone Alarm and it seemed to block alot of stuff, but my system was SOOOOO S L O W!!!!! I'm taking a gamble here and just using the XP firewall. I have AD Aware and I'm using Norton Anti-Virus. My Yahoo! e-mail comes with a bulk mail folder where all of my spam (those that I identify) automatically go. I still can go into that folder and see if there are any e-mails that I do want to keep that Yahoo! considered spam.

I had Zone Alarm and it seemed to block alot of stuff, but my system was SOOOOO S L O W!!!

That is probably because you had both the XP firewall, and the Zone Alarm one enabled. You cannot use both at the same time, or it basically shuts down the system--particularly with Cable or DSL and a dynamic I.P. address.

I have dial up - another reason why it was slow! I'm sure that if I had DSL or cable it would be a different story.

have dial up - another reason why it was slow! I'm sure that if I had DSL or cable it would be a different story.

With dial up, you are probably okay with the XP firewall, as you're not always on, and probably don't do much file sharing.

StormChasr wrote:

have dial up - another reason why it was slow! I'm sure that if I had DSL or cable it would be a different story.

With dial up, you are probably okay with the XP firewall, as you're not always on, and probably don't do much file sharing.

That makes me feel alittle better about removing Zone Alarm.

That makes me feel alittle better about removing Zone Alarm.

Well, your exposure is far less great. Dial up is slow (even hackers are in a hurry), and most ppl on dial up are not on constantly. I, for example, am on 24/7 with 4 computers (as it is my business), and have a static IP address, and Business Road Runner. Just be careful about online banking---do your transaction and LOG OUT of any online account.

cable here, and Zone alarm logs hundreds of attempts per day to get into my computer. Many of them originate from addresses within the customer base of my ISP. I mentioned it to a tech for my ISP once, and he said that it only takes a few infected computers in the customer base to create a lot of activity. When I do get spyware zone alarm prevents it from getting out too. Zone Alarm has a fairly userfriendly interface too. You have to keep after the logfiles though, they tend to accumulate and need to be cleaned out regularly.

For spyware, I use adaware, spybot, and hijack this. Betwixt the three, things stay under control.

ad-aware seems to catch more than spybot, but once in a while, spybot will catch something that ad-aware misses.

spybot runs faster than ad-aware. Hijack this is very fast and always finds things that the other two miss. I use the others first because they offer options that hijack this doesn't have.

StormChasr wrote:

I certainly wouldn't trust the Winblows XP firewall alone.

Agree strongly. XP firewall is a "back end" firewall only. It stops incoming traffic by default, but in terms of outgoing, and IM and port selectivity, it is useless. Zone Alarm is good. The pro version is worth the money as an upgrade. Norton Firewall is also good as a consumer firewall.

Actually one of the best options is the firewall on a wireless router, as options can be configured independently, and customized.

Telling this to your parents can only go so far...

Telling this to your parents can only go so far...

I am the parent, so what I say goes......lolol