new windows firewall/zone alarm free

[jymmyp]

Hi. i just downloaded and installed the new windows upgrade sp-2 my question is,is the new windows firewall enough or should i continue using zone alarm 5.1 free?thanks for your help

[martindijk]

Hi Jimm,

Always use a software FW as you are using now, as the Windows FW only blocks incoming threats.

rgds,
Martin

[Paranoid2000]

Please also check this article SP2's firewall is not good enough. Since it can be shut down (or its rules altered) by other programs, it cannot be relied upon to prevent malware from sending data out.

[jymmyp]

Thanks for all the info this has got to be the best forum that i have been on
i have to say if you have a question YOU WILL GET AN ANSWER again thankyou JIM

[Blackspear]

Originally Posted by jymmyp

Hi. i just downloaded and installed the new windows upgrade sp-2 my question is,is the new windows firewall enough or should i continue using zone alarm 5.1 free?thanks for your help

You will almost definitely find ZA 5.1.011 will lock solid your system if you have SP2 installed, it may not be straight away, but it will happen...

You are better off going back to 4.5.594, it doesn't have the problems the latest release does. There are other threads here at Wilders discussing the issue and SP2, see here:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=44118

Hope this helps...

Cheers

[liang_mike]

Originally Posted by martindijk

Hi Jimm,

Always use a software FW as you are using now, as the Windows FW only blocks incoming threats.

rgds,
Martin

I thought SP2 firewall also checks outgoing connections

[ronjor]

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), currently in Beta testing, includes the Windows Firewall, a significant enhancement of the feature previously known as the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). Windows Firewall is a stateful host firewall that drops all unsolicited incoming traffic that does not correspond to either traffic sent in response to a request of the computer (solicited traffic) or unsolicited traffic that has been specified as allowed (excepted traffic). This behavior of Windows Firewall provides a level of protection from malicious users and programs that use unsolicited incoming traffic to attack computers. With the exception of some Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) messages, Windows Firewall does not drop outgoing traffic.

http://www.iamnotageek.com/a/103-p1.php

[mercurie]

Ron,

Very informative link. Thanks.

I have not changed to WinFirewall after download of SP2 from ZAP 4.5 on one machine and Norton Firewall 2004 on the other machine and do not intend too either.

It is a step in the right direction for all those PC users who I meet who refuse to believe they need a firewall,l but will download a windows "patch".