Question about Firewalls and Startup?

Broadband services usually log to connect when the computer starts up as well do firewalls.

Question: Which came first...

1. The firewall loads and is protecting your computer BEFORE your computer goes online.

2. Your computer goes online unprotected before your firewall has time to load and kick in.

Is there a way to know for sure which of these usually occur if both the firewall and a broadband's service auto-connect loads on startup?

Idea: An option to list and autostart programs AFTER the firewall is fully loaded and protecting your computer. Users can specify what programs they would like to have start up after the firewall loads if they use a broadband service.

 

Yes, most firewalls have an engine that loads first, and then the GUI. I believe most firewalls try to load as early in the boot process as possible, but each firewall may be different, so you need to find out from the support place of your firewall of choice.
Outpost version 1 loaded early in the boot process, but it started in the allow all mode. Obviously this was a design flaw and has been corrected in version 2 to start in the block all mode until the boot sequence is complete.
I have no information on other firewalls or I would share it with you.
It's a fair question and I know many are concerned about it. I think a lot of things would have to be in place for anything nasty to happen before bootup was complete and I think that is unlikely.
But then I'm on dialup.

Or is that, I'm on dialup.

 

In particular “Look ‘n’ Stop” has "Persistant Internet Filtering" Feature which one is capable of using on Win2K/XP Machines that blocks ALL at a Driver Level (lnsfw.sys), blocking All Application’s Connections which may Load before Look ‘n’ Stop Application does.

Also you can Manually Tweak A Software Firewall’s Booting Process such like doing the following;

 

Hello,

If you are unsure whether yourrFW starts before you connexion, use startup delayer (free) : http://www.r2.com.au/software.php?page=2&show=startdelay
and manage the programs' starting order

Rgds,

 

Hey JacK

I believe the goal is to Shield from unauthorized malicious Software making Outgoing Connections which had inserted itself secretly into a Start-up Group of your Operating System, are you going to manage those too? To Load up after Nth amount of time after your Software Firewall becomes fully Loaded? I surely feel safe now knowing that Utility Exists!!!!

 

I recently tried Kerio for a little while and was quite surprised that it popped up almost first thing after rebooting where as ZA free (at least the UI) would come up after a bunch of other stuff loaded and a time or two after I had alread dialed in.

Whether it means anything or not security wise I liked seeing the Kerio UI come up so fast because I had often worried about this issue with ZA.

May not have made me more secure but it made me feel better.

 

As long as you understand this is the GUI and not the engine, therefore, it is not really giving you any indication of when your protection actually begins.