Firewall for Windows

My machine runs WinXP, I use ADSL to connect to the Net, and I use
WinXP's built-in firewall when I'm online.

My friends have their machines online via ADSL too, but their machines
don't have WinXP. One is Win 98SE, another one is Win ME.

During the weekend, I scan both their machines for virus, using Norton
AntiVirus 2003 professional, and you know what I found ?

On the Win 98SE machine, there were 793 files infected with virus, 3
of them could NOT be fixed.

On the Win ME machine, ther were 638 files infected with virus, 2 of
them couldn't be fixed.

I regularly scan my machine, and from time to time, I found one or two
viruses, perhaps it's because of the firewall. On my friends' machines
however, there are no firewalls.

So my question is - if I want to set up firewall for them, what are
the choices ?

Are there any good and free firewall available for Win 98SE and WinME
?

The machine used by my friends are older machines, and one requirement
for the firewall, if they are used, is that they don't slow down the
machine too much.

Do you have any recommendation ?

Thanks !!


Penang

It's probably not any fault of an inferior or lack of a firewall, but more
than likely poor computing habits and an obviously inferior anti-virus
program allowing the virus to be executed in the first place. AVG antivirus
is free and many swear by it.

I wouldn't suggest the one that consumes the least resources, rather one of
the easiest for those who can't seem to manage to keep viruses off their
system. I used Zone Alarm on the infamously unstable ME for a bit with no
trouble. I hear some of the others such as Sygate and Kerio have free
versions that work great as well. Something, is always better than nothing.

Best off to upgrade to XP if the machines can handle it. Their computing
experience will be much more pleasant and daily restarts will become a thing
of the past.


Penang wrote:
> My machine runs WinXP, I use ADSL to connect to the Net, and I use
> WinXP's built-in firewall when I'm online.
>
> My friends have their machines online via ADSL too, but their machines
> don't have WinXP. One is Win 98SE, another one is Win ME.
>
> During the weekend, I scan both their machines for virus, using Norton
> AntiVirus 2003 professional, and you know what I found ?
>
> On the Win 98SE machine, there were 793 files infected with virus, 3
> of them could NOT be fixed.
>
> On the Win ME machine, ther were 638 files infected with virus, 2 of
> them couldn't be fixed.
>
> I regularly scan my machine, and from time to time, I found one or two
> viruses, perhaps it's because of the firewall. On my friends' machines
> however, there are no firewalls.
>
> So my question is - if I want to set up firewall for them, what are
> the choices ?
>
> Are there any good and free firewall available for Win 98SE and WinME
> ?
>
> The machine used by my friends are older machines, and one requirement
> for the firewall, if they are used, is that they don't slow down the
> machine too much.
>
> Do you have any recommendation ?
>
> Thanks !!

ZoneAlarm should do the job adequately on the older OSes.
----------------------------------------------
"Penang" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
My machine runs WinXP, I use ADSL to connect to the Net, and I use
WinXP's built-in firewall when I'm online.

My friends have their machines online via ADSL too, but their machines
don't have WinXP. One is Win 98SE, another one is Win ME.

During the weekend, I scan both their machines for virus, using Norton
AntiVirus 2003 professional, and you know what I found ?

On the Win 98SE machine, there were 793 files infected with virus, 3
of them could NOT be fixed.

On the Win ME machine, ther were 638 files infected with virus, 2 of
them couldn't be fixed.

I regularly scan my machine, and from time to time, I found one or two
viruses, perhaps it's because of the firewall. On my friends' machines
however, there are no firewalls.

So my question is - if I want to set up firewall for them, what are
the choices ?

Are there any good and free firewall available for Win 98SE and WinME
?

The machine used by my friends are older machines, and one requirement
for the firewall, if they are used, is that they don't slow down the
machine too much.

Do you have any recommendation ?

Thanks !!

In article <(E-Mail Removed) >,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
> During the weekend, I scan both their machines for virus, using Norton
> AntiVirus 2003 professional, and you know what I found ?
>
> On the Win 98SE machine, there were 793 files infected with virus, 3
> of them could NOT be fixed.
>
> On the Win ME machine, ther were 638 files infected with virus, 2 of
> them couldn't be fixed.
>
> I regularly scan my machine, and from time to time, I found one or two
> viruses, perhaps it's because of the firewall. On my friends' machines
> however, there are no firewalls.
>
> So my question is - if I want to set up firewall for them, what are
> the choices ?

I have a large number of machines in my home, my office, and at our
clients - never had one virus, and I've been doing this since the 70's.

Get a Linksys BEFSR41 router with NAT, don't use Port Forwarding, and
install it between your internet cable/dsl modem and your computer.
That's all that you need for blocking inbound connections.

Next, get yourself some good AV software - NAV 2003 is good, just keep
it updated.

Next, if you are already compromised, wipe the computer and reinstall
everything (Format the drive from a clean diskette or CD).

Last, Download FireFox browser and make it your default browser, then
download ThunderBird email client and make it your default email reader.

--
--
(E-Mail Removed)
(Remove 999 to reply to me)

"Jeff N." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<-LGdnUNY8aqg4_7cRVn-(E-Mail Removed)>...

[snip]
> Best off to upgrade to XP if the machines can handle it. Their computing
> experience will be much more pleasant and daily restarts will become a thing
> of the past.
[snip]

This last part is especially true if they are using IE as their
browser, security updates are a thing of the past except for XP.

Not true!
No upgrades will be available - but IE 6 is still supported for security
updates

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Joe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> "Jeff N." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:<-LGdnUNY8aqg4_7cRVn-(E-Mail Removed)>...
>
> [snip]
>> Best off to upgrade to XP if the machines can handle it. Their computing
>> experience will be much more pleasant and daily restarts will become a
>> thing
>> of the past.
> [snip]
>
> This last part is especially true if they are using IE as their
> browser, security updates are a thing of the past except for XP.