my computer doesn't have a firewall and security setting installed. How can I get them?

Question

By the way, I i am usin xp.

How safe it is to use the computer without them?

Answer 1

In my spare time I test on my backup computer all antispyware/antivirus programs to see if the perform as claimed And especially to see which one have embedded trojans/adware either in their program or in the wizard installer used to guide you through the installation.

What is rate as 1-2-3-4-5 is not always the best. Especially when you can find free programs that are light years ahead in technology over the purchased.

In my computer I use the following free programs.

For antivirus you can only use one or you will have serious conflict with your system. You can use three or four antispyware without any conflict.

Avast in my opinion is the very best. Have used Avast for nine plus years and never had one virus. They are out of Prague.

http://www.avast.com This program is free and has one of the very best background scanner that will catch any virus in real time and destroyed the virus before it can enter you system.
Updates auto., two or three times per day. They will ask you for your email address so they can send you a free key that is good for one year. After one year you only have to request a new key.

Antispyware

http://www.ewido.net This company was out of Germany and has since been purchased by AVG. Now the name is AVG antispyware. Still the same program with excellent technolgoy. When you download the program it will come with all functions an if you don't purchase in thirty days they will just remove the background scanner and the auto updates. You will update on a manual basis. Scans all 195,000 objects in my system.

http://www.emsisoft.com This company is out of Austria. Almost the same as the new AVG. A2Squared free version download. They will ask you for you email address so they can send you a key that is good for life. You will get any new free version with the same key. Plus has rootkit protection and rogue dialer protection. (I have ADSL, but use for the added protection).

Firewall

http://www.zonealarm.com Excellent firewall free, if you download their free for home use version. You will get daily updates if any are due, plus if they come out with a new free version they will notify you via automatic and you just say yes, download the new version. The new version will remove the old version. Always best to do is clean install, instead of allowing the new version to copy the files of what you allowed or deny. You will just have to allow, or deny incoming/outgoing traffice again. If you check off remember on Zone Alarm, they will not ask you again if you want to allow or deny the same program.

For "zero day attacks", Attacks that hit before any security company has knowledge of the attack. I use a free software that is is excellent state of the art technology to identify any program that the behaivor is strange, like trying to download hidden files, etc. etc. Will get a pop up with indepth details, so you can decide for yourself if you want to allow or deny. Plus will block all malware. http://www.cyberhawk.com

Also go to start and windows updates, and download all your critical updates that come out every second Tuesday of the month.


Clinical Psychiatrist, France

Excuse my english

Answer 2

I'm going to help you out with some freeware solutions. You basically need 3, well 4 protection items:

1. Windows Updates Enabled
Right click My Computer > Properties. Ensure Windows Update is set to Automatic.

2. An Anti-Virus
The best freeware antivirus is Active Virus Shield (www.activevirusshield.com). Ignore all the AVG fanboys. AVS uses the Kaspersky bases and walks all over AVG in terms of detection rates.

3. Firewall
Windows Firewall just doesn't cut it. You're best off going for either ZoneAlarm or GhostWall, downloadable from GhostSecurity.com

4. Anti-Malware
I know there are a lot of Microsoft haters out there but seriously - Windows Defender. It's come a long way since Microsoft Anti-Spyware. It's automatic and will protect your computer in the background.

All solutions listed are freeware. Get those installed and you should be sorted.

Answer 3

Try going to Microsoft Updates and downloading the newest security updates. Also if you get a router, they have built in firewalls and are really good.
It is pretty dangerous now if you dont have a firewall cause a lot of spyware can get into your computer without your virus protection program picking it up, which enables people to hack into your system

Answer 4

It's not real safe...if you are behind a router, that is fine most of the time. If you have your modem plugged directly into your computer, anybody can get in if they want. If this is the case, download ZoneAlarm...it's free and is a very good software firewall.

Answer 5

Your best bet is this set of software. Pick one AntiVirus and one Firewall after trying them all. DO NOT USE the built-in stuff provided by Microsoft - it does not work well at all.

Comodo AntiVirus
AVG AntiVirus
ZoneAlarm Firewall and Anti-Trojan/Anti-Virus
Outpost Pro Firewall
Comodo Firewall
XoftSpy
AdAware
CounterSpy
SpyProtector

Answer 6

I am pretty sure you can have both at once. I have the Microsoft one and two other security programs both with firewalls and nothing bad has happened.

Answer 7

It isn't safe at all. To start the XP Firewall, click on Start, Control Panel, find the XP Firewill, open it and turn it on.

Answer 8

I recommend Safety and Security Center.

Answer 9

Here you have some good and free programs:
http://askcomputerexpert.ws43.com/download/
Get an antivirus program, an anti-spyware and a firewall.
And here are some things about security that you should read:
http://askcomputerexpert.ws43.com/security/

Answer 10

right click your network connection icon (the one on the task bar)
click "open network connections" then right click icon "properties" then "advance" check the box that says activate ur firewall