firewall

[Baz]

do people have windoze firewall on or off. if its off how safe are you. if its off what keeps automagically turning it back on.

whats windoze defender in vista. do I need that running on my new laptops.

[Sebby]

Personally, I leave it on, Baz, but I certainly don't think of it as the best firewall around. It's an inbound firewall only. If you're using a router with NAT (chances are that you are) then you're protected inbound anyway. I just find it's easiest to leave Windows' firewall on as it doesn't intrude at all. If you want something a bit better, and that manages outbound connections, you'll need something third-party. Imo, if you're careful with what you install, and have antivirus and antispyware, you don't really need it.

Windows Defender is an antispyware application. It runs in realtime to stop spyware from getting on your system in the first place, and also scans your system at various times. It's not perfect, and spyware can still get on to your system, but it's another layer of protection.

[Baz]

thanks Sebby. yeah I have a router so thats why the windows one doesnt get used, but I just looked yesterday and it was turned on something turning it on auto

[Sebby]

When it's disabled, the Security Center (sic) gets upset and warns you - perhaps it got switched on like that?

[D-Dan]

I haven't used a software firewall for months (the router's firewall is more than adequate). You can disable security centre warnings in the control panel ("Change the way security centre alerts me" or some such thing).

Steve

[Simon]

I use a security suite, with an integrated firewall, as I like to know what's attempting to make connections, although they are getting quite good at recognising 'good' programs, and automatically allowing them, so I don't know it's there most of the time.

[drummer]

The Windows firewall is utterly superfluous when you use decent router so just disable it.

I'm a bit geeky though and I always install a software firewall so I can control my outbound connections (ZoneAlarm free on three computers and Comodo free on another).

For the life of me, I can't think of a single reason why I should allow my ancient version of Photoshop to connect to the internet when I know it'll only try to sell me an unwanted upgrade.  If I wanted to upgrade it, I'd do so in my own time at my own pace!

Third-party software firewalls give you some control over your 24/7 connection and that has to be a good thing.  Doesn't it?