Outpost Pro

anybody got tips how to configure outpost fw pro?

 

Tips reply depends directly as to the setup or security requirements.
The firewall can be set up for a maximum security or just as a packet filter.
Some will recommend certain methods whereas some may suggest lighter controls.

 

Im running without AV so Im looking to maximize the security. What steps should I take? I did the obvious:
- Firewall set on Block Most
- Antispyware Real Time protection on Maximium
- Anti-leak on Maximum
- Webcontrol block Java by default on all websites
But I am most intrigued by the firewall settings. I really don't understand them. I was wondering if there are any guides or whether "Block Most" protection is good enough...

 

Your setting seem optimized, although there will be others with further advice.

Block most simply is block connections for application which have no created rules.

Blocking java can be alternatively achieved within the browser(s) by disabling the java plugins.
Ditto for the vbs and activex controlling for the IE browser (as these can be controlled within the IE).
As well as others can be controlled in the IE and other browsers such as iframes, js, flash, etc.

 

i have been using the block most setting for years now without any problems. in addition to that i have unchecked the box that says detect new networks automatically.

Antispyware settings I have set heuristic to be in depth and operation mode to be on access rather than on file execution.

 

Firewalls. Quite a topic really.

Most firewalls these days offer "convenience modes", such as Block Most or Allow Most. They usually offer a "wizard" mode as well, where new conditions are displayed when found and await your answer. Most firewalls attempt to have a preset for known processes. This makes todays firewalls fairly easy to use for novice users.

When you ask the question "is this good" or "what should I do", are you really wanting an answer, or are you looking for someone to say "looks good, go on about your business"? I ask because, if you don't know much about firewalls, it really is a subject that you need to have some knowledge about in order to "fluently" discuss it. If you are serious about how to configure a firewall, then before you can do that you will need, at a minimum, to understand the terminology used within the scope of a firewall and have a decent understanding of networking on a pc. There used to be some really good articles at the outpost users forum by a guy I think named paranoid2001 or something like that. He explained things very well and had some great write-ups on how to configure outpost. There are a good number of posts here as well that are very informative.

If you are not looking to truly understand how to configure a firewall, then I would just stick it on Block Most or Rules Wizard, and follow whatever it "suggests" until you develop an issue. You may never have a problem, or you might one day and find you will be forced to learn something to continue.

If you do decide you want to know more about this stuff, then you will eventually find that you will configure your firewall mostly by yourself, for your specific needs. The "help" you get from others will be about a specific process you struggle with, not an entire collection of settings. At least that is how most "seem" to operate, which is why when someone posts a good firewall thread like Stem does, there are soooo many posts and questions, because everybody does it differently, aside from some certain rules all windows boxes would encounter.

On my boxes that did and still do run Outpost, I setup my rulesets, and I don't want anything to pass that isn't allowed, so I set mine to Block Most. As a beginner Block Most can stop things from happening, which you always need to remember to change the mode to Allow Most or Rules Wizard to troubleshoot. Just sticking it on Block Most and not understanding has caused a lot of people to simply "disable" thier firewall because they think it stops thier stuff from working correctly. And they are right, it does that, by design.

Like I said, firewalls really are not "light reading", more like websters dictionary lol.

* and as a side note, while i don't use a firewall on my main pcs any longer, I have had some servers up for years that still run Outpost Pro 2.x. I rely on my router really, but use a software firewall for extra measures, considering I have open ports with various services running and listening. I've used XP firewall as well, but use Outpost on them because if there is an issue it is easy to see what is going on.

Sul.

 

Hi Sul,

His "name" is Paranoid2000. Great guy!

 

Thanks I will go over his posts. See if I learn something.

 

If you don't, let me know. Somewhere I archived one of his informative documents. I just have to find it lol.

Sul.

 

Outpost config by Paranoid2000
http://www.outpostfirewall.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9858

Another great source is here. Navigate to Customizing Firewall Rules by CrazyM in this sticky
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=24415

 

Similar and alternative advice given here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r8023708-BZ-Kerio-2x-Default-Replacement-Update

 

Yes, BZ classic
I always found this hole-closing Blitzen-Zeus advice difficult to do in Outpost v6 and v7 for antivirus products which use local proxy. It can be done, but for me not easily, especially with Avast which needs a whole mess of them.

Easy in Kerio 2.1.5 or Sunbelt 4.6 or 4.7.4.

 

thanks guys for all those resources