Looking at firewalls,just how good is windows firewall?

Answer 1

The Windows is an excellent firewall with one exception. It does not block outgoing information. It does its job of blocking incoming unwanted data very well.

The main point of protecting your computer is to not get the Malware on it in the first place. Relying to heavily on a Firewall for protection is a serious mistake. The Firewall should only be a part of the overall protection scheme.

Your protection package should consist of:

1 Firewall. The best firewall is a Hardware firewall. It is extremely difficult for programs and hackers to change its settings. Since it is a seperate unit located between the computer and your DSL connection you use no system resources (RAM) for it to protect. Many good DSL Routers have built in Firewalls. Some are like the Windows Firewall and only provide one way protection. Many new version now use two way firewalls.

Software Firewalls are more vulnerable to having setting changed. Many of the better programs are making efforts to counter this problem. Software firewalls can use a large amount of System resources and slow your computer. There are many excellent Firewall programs and some are free. Zone Alarm is the best known Free Firewall.

AntiVirus: You can use only one Antivirus program. Using more than one will cause them to conflict with each other. They see each others virus definitions as infections and try to remove them. This conflict can cause physical damage to your Motherboard and/or Hard Drive.

Here is a site that lists the results of Independent tests of many AntiVirus programs. The tests used real viruses that have been neutered. You will see that the #1 & 2 have the exact same % rating. That is because #2 is a free service that uses the #1 program.

http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=82&mnu=82

AntiSpyware: You should have at least 3 Antispyware programs that provide "full time" protection. 1500+ new spyware programs are released on the Internet every month. No single program can keep up with all of it.

Most free AntiSpyware programs are "on demand" scanner. They require a purchase to get the 'full time' version. Windows Defender is an excellent free 'full time' program along with Spybot Search and Destory (Tea Timer must be activated for 'full time' protection) and SpywareBlaster is also excellent. SpywareBlaster does not scan, but monitors and blocks malware.

Here is a site with excellent information on protecting your computer. I recommend you take the time to read it.

http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/computer_privacy_and_security.htm

Answer 2

definitely. What you have indicated which you have put in on your computing gadget is adequate. maximum folk have little faith in the domicile windows Firewall, yet having worked at an cyber web Helpdesk for 7 years, no longer as quickly as have I encountered a individual who had a concern with the domicile windows FIrewall no longer doing what it mandatory to do. Now, for Norton, Mcafee, vogue Micro, and so on., i would be unable to stay an analogous. they have an inclination to limit cyber web surfing even while a valid connection exists. The firewall settings may be minimum and an analogous might consequence. maximum often, they might could coach the firewalls off. i'm no longer saying that this befell in all circumstances because of the fact i'm specific there are people who have not had problems with the softwares, yet i'm in basic terms speaking from experience and having worked with many disgruntled human beings!

Answer 3

I don't fell it is enough. Windows firewall only monitors incoming traffic. So if a virus or spyware gets in and tries to send out information, windows firewall will not block it. You need a good bi-directional firewall. Comodo has a good one that works right out of the box.


http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Answer 4

"Matousec.com, as part of a larger analysis of personal firewalls on Windows, has conducted a thorough leak test of 21 pieces of firewall software. Leak tests imitate common methods used by trojans or spyware to send your information from your computer. Windows Firewall XP SP2 fails every test, so the fears that the days of third party firewall software was over seem groundless. Surprisingly the two top programs are both freeware."

Answer 5

When is a firewall not a firewall? when it's windows firewall, install AVG anti virus and Zone alarm firewall this will keep you safer than windows firewall.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Look at it this way...

if Windows Firewall was sand on a beach and intruders was water...the water would go straight through the sand; however you can't have a beach or water without the sand.; so better you have a firewall at all than not

Answer 7

For normal everyday browsing, the windows firewall is all you need.
But if you regularly download lots of stuff or use peer to peer networks like limewire and kazaa, you need a bit more protection

A good antivirus program should keep everything safe.. most recent versions of all antivirus programs have firewalls too

Answer 8

Better than NO firewall, but just.

Answer 9

Not at all. Go out and grab either Norton Internet Security or go free with the AVG free version. Both have their nuances, but...way better than the Windoze firewall.

Answer 10

It's hopeless. In that way, not only firewall but everything on this earth is hopeless.-A pessimist.