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Windows PC security centre | if the wifi set up feature works ...

achisholm — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 07:00:00 +0000

Forum: Safe computing
Topic: Windows PC security centre
Poster: achisholm
Post title: if the wifi set up feature works ...

then I might be tempted to stick with the microsoft security software, otherwise I'd rather stick with the software I know and trust.

Basicaly, how well can microsoft be trusted to police themselves and expose holes in their own software? My worry is that if a big security breach comes along which microsoft can't find an easy and quick patch for, then they will simply refuse to make information about the problem public.

There's no problem having two AV programs running on the same machine, but two firewalls is another matter, and I know from experience that its firewall configuration which will give me headaches when it comes to setting up and stably running my home wifi network.

I have in fact done as the above prozer suggested and simply disabled all the firewall settings, but I get an annoying popup reminder saying that the system is unprotected. Not a problem , just unsightly.

Cheers and many thanks for the comments and suggestions.

Windows PC security centre | XP and ZoneAlarm fighting for control

Heinrich Pesch — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 01:38:00 +0000

Forum: Safe computing
Topic: Windows PC security centre
Poster: Heinrich Pesch
Post title: XP and ZoneAlarm fighting for control

I believe if you want to go for the SP2 you should do a clean install of XP and look for something else than ZoneAlarm. Better use one package for firewall AND virus control.

I had last week a lot of problems with an XP-notebook and ZoneAlarm. There was a long list of fixes for XP, which made the system extremely unstable. I installed XP anew (and activated it over the phone - nice feature from Microsoft, these activations!) and got the ZoneAlarm with Anti Virus package. After that I disabled the automatic update function for XP. I rather have a functioning system and a security program, that updates itself than those constant updates from Microsoft. If its not broken, don't fix it! In fact this notebook was still virusfree after a year of use with the old software.
Actually I'm using Win2000 on my main machine and I'm quite satisfied with it. I never care for updates to the system as long as it works.

Windows PC security centre | srvice pack 2

Brandis (X) — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 00:26:00 +0000

Forum: Safe computing
Topic: Windows PC security centre
Poster: Brandis (X)
Post title: srvice pack 2

[quote]LiMaBi wrote:

Hi Alexander,

all this came to me through the SP2 update (Service Pack 2). As you have the auto update and installation enabled that seems to be the reason...
Unfortunately I have no idea how to get rid of it (I just disabled everything I found).

Linda[/quote]is functioning fine with me - brandis

Windows PC security centre | Service Pack 2

LindaMcM — Sun, 10 Oct 2004 23:08:00 +0000

Forum: Safe computing
Topic: Windows PC security centre
Poster: LindaMcM
Post title: Service Pack 2

Hi Alexander,

all this came to me through the SP2 update (Service Pack 2). As you have the auto update and installation enabled that seems to be the reason...
Unfortunately I have no idea how to get rid of it (I just disabled everything I found).

Linda

Windows PC security centre

achisholm — Sun, 10 Oct 2004 20:47:00 +0000

Forum: Safe computing
Topic: Windows PC security centre
Poster: achisholm

I was very busy with some translation deadlines last week and so had no time to do any PC "housekeeping".

I noticed that on my main PC (the one that is connected to the internet and all my peripherals and is used essentially as a server - all other work being mostly done on 2 laptops and another PC connected to the "main" one through a WiFi metwork) has installed some icons in the control panel which relate to PC security. Namely:-
- PC security centre
- wireless network installation (this is new and so I assume comes with the above)
- Windows firewall

I should say that I have windows XP (running on all my machines) set to autodownload and install updates - something which has never given me problems of this nature in the past.

I have been using non-windows applications for the above tasks for the last couiple of years and haven't had any problems. I use Norton Antivirus 2004 and Zone Alarm as a firewall.

The firewall is the one that's causing me the most grief, since I spent ages getting ZoneAlarm to set up properly, i.e. keeping out intruders whilst letting my other PCs connect to each other through the WiFi network.

Has anyone else come accross what I've described above? Is there a way to disable and hopefully completely remove the Firewall component whilst leaving the antivirus intact (I assume the antivirus, even with Norton running) won't cause me too many problems. I've deactivated the firewall, but now I have an application tray ison which keeps popping up and telling me the computer may not be protected and won't go away.

What about the Install wireless network option, has any one used that? I will be changing ADSL providers in the next couple of weeks or so and so reinstalling and configuring my WiFi system.

Any advice/opuinions greatly qappreciated.