Firewall problems

I've been it using since 99. I've eliminated all the programs I don't use, except for the ones that microsoft make dependent upon each other. It just seems that the performance (even tho it says it stays at around 82%) is getting very undependable. Time to upgrade?

And said software could tax one of them or could make a demand on one that couldn't be met.

Since you've used 98 since 99, you should know that such is the way of this OS. You can only optimize but never expand the memory pools.

Used with care (don't run email, 3 browsers, burn a CD and listen to MP3s at the same time) you can use 98 for quite awhile. Do try the prior version of Zonealarm, but answer this one question.

What exactly is Zone Alarm saving you from? There is not an exploit such as we see in NT/2000/XP/2003.

Bob

I just assumed that I needed a firewall. I don't know what ZA was saving me from. McAfee catches all the problems I've had which is very few and I can use AdAware to get rid of the spys. Interesting that the majority of problems are with later OS. Thank you for the clarification.

Think about what a firewall does.

It has inbound protection and with Zone Alarm they upped the ante with outbound connection reporting.

However, Windows 98se with just one patch (Window update does it everytime on a fresh install) and turning off network shares has yet to be exploited just sitting on the internet. There is nothing to talk to on a 98se machine.

The outbound connections are commonly spyware. Which ZA was great to raise the consciousness of all about this. However by using Mozilla/firefox and the Antispyware tools, it's a rarity to see any issue.

Bob

Every little bit of information I receive from you and the others posting at cnet help me to better understand. Its pretty confusing out there at least for an old dog like me. Thanks for your help.