Personal Firewall Choices - HELP!!

by 5dukesnnc Aug 23, 2004 9:24AM PDT

I know it isn't practice of CNet to "suggest" products, etc. but I'm doing my best to protect my son's computer while I'm using it on a LAN connection.

His operating system is Windows XP and I just installed Norton Personal Firewall 2004. As long as it is enabled, I cannot view any websites (this did not happen on Windows 98, my computer). I have to disable and then refresh for it to open the web page.

I've seen information about Windows XP Service Pack 2 but for now, I'm just afraid to install anything else and make it worse.

Could someone provide the forum address for Symantec customers. I have looked everywhere on the site and keep batting a big ZERO!! In a previous post, I was advised to check that forum for questions regarding Norton PF and Windows XP but I just have had no success at finding the forum. The suggestion was that I would most likely find other users that have experienced the same problem and hopefully a simple and easy fix!

I'm really afraid I'll make matters worse and I'm just trying to keep it as simple as possible until my new computer arrives but my son does plan to take his back to college with him, which he will have a LAN connection there too so I really must get this resolved.

Thanks in advance for your help!! This is the easiest forum I've found and the most helpful. That's why my computer illiteracy keeps me shwoing every time I post a question! :o)

Discussion is locked

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I've never used a firewall but I believe

by Ray Harinec Aug 23, 2004 10:06AM PDT

that you simply have all of your ports closed. Read the instructions and then you will have to enable the ports for the sites that you want to go to.

Here's a link to port info.

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~rakerman/port-table.html

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Re: Personal Firewall Choices - HELP!!

by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Aug 24, 2004 12:56AM PDT

5dukes,

Sorry, but I don't believe that Symantec has a forum for it's products.

Are you aware that Windows XP has a firewall already installed? (Both SP1 and SP2 have this option.) Although Windows XP's firewall isn't as handy at monitoring "outgoing" attempts, it does a fair job at stopping "incoming" attempts to your computer. If you aren't able to get Norton's firewall functioning correctly, disable it, then try the XP Internet Connection Firewall like this:

Click on Start-Control Panel, then double click on the "Network Connections" icon. Find the connection icon that you used for the internet (either a dial-up of LAN icon), RIGHT click on the icon, choose "Properties". When that loads, click on the "Advanced" tab and enable the firewall from there. Although not a perfect solution, it might work for you.

In addition, if you're thinking about installing firewall's, there is a long discussion going on about it in the Windows XP forum. Here is a link to that discussion:

XP SP2 Firewall or Zonealarm

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re: Personal Firewall Choices - HELP!!

by Testy Aug 24, 2004 9:33AM PDT

ZoneAlarm is free and very easy to use.

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Echo, with an extra. . .

by Coryphaeus Aug 25, 2004 10:32PM PDT

Uninstall the Norton Personal Firewall, keep the AV. NPF is really a pain in the ***. ZoneAlarm, get the free version. It will block most intruders and alert (pop-up) when any program tries to access the net, you can allow or deny.

The built in firewall in most routers finishes the protection.

My four PC home network has never been hit.

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Re: Personal Firewall Choices - HELP!!

by Willy Aug 26, 2004 12:45AM PDT

Goto google and type keywords: SP2 woes and read what some have said and encountered. If I remember right NPF isn't to be effectdd by SP2 but I did have an incidance where it didn't work after the patch. but I've haven't done too many so far. Yeah, Symantec hasn't answered back. The forums are offered under the support side, link to support and check the added options. BTW, NPF is a real PITA, but once you configure it beware of pop-up of notications, unless you turn that off as well. SP2 will turn-ON XP own firewall, so disable in order to use any other firewall w/o conflict.

good luck -----Willy

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Re: Personal Firewall Choices - HELP!!

by Kees Bakker Aug 26, 2004 6:37PM PDT

Assuming you don't yet have Win XP SP2, uninstall NPF (hope the uninstall is complete) and trust on the build-in Win XP Firewall to intercept incoming traffic. Combined with 'normal' levels of antivirus, spyware checks and caution in opening suspected emails and browsing to suspected web-pages.
Be sure to understand the configuration of the XP product. I don't think it's difficult.

Wait for SP2 for tracking outgoing traffic. As far as I read, there's no use anymore for another firewall for normal home users.

Kees

Personal Firewall Choices - HELP!!

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