Home Computer Firewall Question...

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May 3, 2002 | 10:50 PM

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Home Computer Firewall Question...

Many thanks for your previous help concerning the dial up problem I had. Seems that during a 2 second power outage, the phone line cooked the dial up modem card, because it wasn't run thru my electrical surge protecter strip. These are available for phone lines and I'm getting one tomorrow, because I learned that a phone line, with only 12 volts, can cook your modem during a power surge. :eek:

Anyway, tomorrow I'm getting hooked up to a high speed Internet cable, and the wife is getting a firewall tomorrow, what you recommended, RC-10? My question is, that to protect yourself from outsiders getting into your system, does the computer have to be disconnected or just logged out? What protection does a firewall afford you from getting 30 spam emails a day? Is a firewall a program or a card that goes in the hard drive?

Basically, how does a firewall work? Thanks for any information. Patrick :cheers:

[Modified by FXT, 9:52 PM 5/3/2002]

May 3, 2002 | 11:37 PM

67HEAVEN

Le Mans Master

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Re: Home Computer Firewall Question... (FXT)

Now Patrick, are you saying that all that finger typing I did some days back was fer nothin'? :D

Let me refresh your memory... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=284932

May 3, 2002 | 11:49 PM

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Re: Home Computer Firewall Question... (67HEAVEN)

Quote:

Now Patrick, are you saying that all that finger typing I did some days back was fer nothin'? :D

Let me refresh your memory... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=284932

Thanks '67, got it now, there was a couple posts there, I had not seen before. It's been a long week! Patrick :D

May 4, 2002 | 12:50 AM

Smokehouse69

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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi

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Re: Home Computer Firewall Question... (FXT)

I've been using Zone Alarm Pro for about 6 months, it is great. It takes a few days to train it, and you have to know a few things about which programs are supposed to have access to the internet. Your email program, etc.
After you get it trained it is totally unobtrusive. Just pops up when some program you are using tries to access the internet. It also pops up if someone tries to access your computer from the internet.
http://www.zonealarm.com

May 4, 2002 | 09:54 AM

67HEAVEN

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Re: Home Computer Firewall Question... (Smokehouse69)

There are several viruses now that not only attack your anti-virus software (unless it is absolutely "right" up to date.......AND........disable ZoneAlarm!!!!

Patrick, go with hardware. You 'mericans got the cash! :lol:

May 4, 2002 | 05:58 PM

Robert N

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From: Tucson AZ

Re: Home Computer Firewall Question... (67HEAVEN)

i use ZoneAlarm (free download) and have run tests from Norton, McAfee, etc, and they cannot see my computer to tag it. Zone Alarm will work great for home users. Hardware units are better, but not necessary. I run the business version at my store and with the computers on 24/7 have not had an issue since using it (18+ months)

May 4, 2002 | 08:07 PM

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Re: Home Computer Firewall Question... (wireless guy)

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. The Lieutenant just went out and bought the hardware, so it's a done deal. Patrick :cheers:

May 4, 2002 | 09:29 PM

67HEAVEN

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Re: Home Computer Firewall Question... (FXT)

Patrick,

Glad to hear you bought the hardware.

On Thursday, I made $605.00 removing 14 different viruses from over 500 files on a new client's computer.

The owner of the business suspected that information was being leaked, but couldn't figure out how. Included in the 14 viruses was BACKDOOR-ABN.

Some of you may be interested to learn what this virus (and many others) is capable of doing.......

In testing the Trojan was observed to disable the personal firewall software in use. Strings within the Trojan suggest that the following personal firewalls will be bypassed:

Sygate Personal Firewall
Tiny Personal Firewall
ZoneAlarm Pro
ZoneAlarm

Aliases:
Backdoor.IRC.Acebo (AVP), BKDR_FLY (Trend) , Win32.Acebot (CA Vet), Worm.Newbiero (AVP)

This new client now has up-to-date anti-virus software AND a router which provides hardware firewall functions using NO software.....disable that!!!!