Windows Firewall

[savak]

I have Windows XP Professional with SP2 but I cannot display the Windows Firewall settings. The security centre says the firewall is off. How can I turn it on?

[djohn]

Start button/control panel/security center/turn on firewall. :)

[jason.b.c]

I have Windows XP Professional with SP2 but I cannot display the Windows Firewall settings. The security centre says the firewall is off. How can I turn it on?

I wouldn't even bother , Just get comodo personal firewall instead.....

It's much much better than windows firewall will ever be....! ;)

[djohn]

Yes, there are several good firewalls you can use but the SP2 version of Windows firewall is very good but not a two way one. I use it and never had a problem but for the last 4 months this has been in conjunction with a hard firewall built into my router and these are the best sort you can get. I quite like Windows firewall for its simplicity, works well with defender and does not cause any conflicts with other Microsoft software.

[jason.b.c]

So then your telling me that your windows firewall will pass this test...Test ( Click Here )

Afterwards click on text summmary and post it here, Lets see what you've got....

----------------------------------------------------------------------

GRC Port Authority Report created on UTC: 2006-09-06 at 01:25:06

Results from scan of ports: 0-1055

0 Ports Open

0 Ports Closed

1056 Ports Stealth

---------------------

1056 Ports Tested

ALL PORTS tested were found to be: STEALTH.

TruStealth: PASSED - ALL tested ports were STEALTH,

- NO unsolicited packets were received,

- NO Ping reply (ICMP Echo) was received.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[dagwoood]

jason.b.c, your links broken because there's no option to run the tests.

If you were trying to link to the all ports test, here's my report and I'm running with the XP firewall.

GRC Port Authority Report created on UTC: 2006-09-06 at 02:06:43

Results from scan of ports: 0-1055

0 Ports Open

0 Ports Closed

1056 Ports Stealth

---------------------

1056 Ports Tested

ALL PORTS tested were found to be: STEALTH.

TruStealth: PASSED - ALL tested ports were STEALTH,

- NO unsolicited packets were received,

- NO Ping reply (ICMP Echo) was received.

So it does work, albeit in one direction.

[andsome]

I swear by Zone Alarm Free. It never gives me any bother at all and passes all tests. Turn the Windows firewall OFF before installing it.

[savak]

The problem is when I use "Start button/control panel/security center/turn on firewall" Windows report back that 'Due to an unidentified problem.....' the damn thing wont display the firewall settings window.

[andsome]

Have you tried a system file check?

[CurlyWhirly]

The problem is when I use "Start button/control panel/security center/turn on firewall" Windows report back that 'Due to an unidentified problem.....' the damn thing wont display the firewall settings window.

I take it you have got the Security Center enabled in the services list which is under 'Administrative Tools'?

[IMTNT]

This link may help.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sharedaccess.htm

[djohn]

So then your telling me that your windows firewall will pass this test...Test ( Click Here )

Hello jason.B.C. Yes, I was, and I've tested it many times but dagwoood has kindly done it for me. Being on the admin staff here I have to be sure of what I post when it comes to things like this. If you check my other post in other topics you will see I always say to wait for others to confirm or advise if I'm not sure of the correct answer.

I find XP's firewall to be excellent especially when its behind a 'Hard' firewall of a router that is set up correctly. I also use Windows defender because it works and its part of the Microsoft software suites, well, not strictly part of a suite but it is the same software and for most people will be fine.

There are some excellent firewalls and ZA but I'm not keen on ZA for a couple or three reasons. 1) its difficult to remove completely unless you use their removal software. Yes it will remove from control panel, but without the removal software it will take another few days of searching to find all the bits it leaves behind.

2) its from Steve Gibson's company and that particular gentleman does ruffle some feathers in the security world among his piers. They don't take to kindly to him. Try a google on him and some of his preachings. This latter part though is just my personal feeling and I would not try to persuade others from using ZA, I would most certainly point them to other firewalls as a first option though. 3) I just don't feel comfortable using it and this could be from the first time I installed it 5 or 6 years back, didn't know how to set it up to stop nagging me about applications seeking permission to enter/leave my machine. I do know now though. :)

I feel that with my browsers set up correctly from the guides of our Nellie2, the two firewalls I have, AVG and spyware blaster on board then I'm reasonably safe but I never go anywhere too adventurous and in 6 years have only ever had one bit of malware. It was a fairly harmless Trojan easy to remove and that was from a floppy that my son inserted and forgot to scan first.

[savak]

Thanks that solved it.