 dumb question, I know..., firewall, logging off |
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 Aug 15 2005, 03:49 AM
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Forum Regular  Group: Members Posts: 268 Joined: 16-May 05 Member No.: 20,354  |
I use ZoneAlarm on Win98. |
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Aug 15 2005, 01:04 PM
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 Forum Addict Group: Global Moderator Posts: 20,642 Joined: 11-April 04 From: Chicago, Il. Member No.: 113 |
As long as the resident firewall in enabled, it is running, and whether you are connected to the NET or not doesn't matter. However, its benefits when you are NOT connected are extremely limited.
Regards, John -------------------- Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one should be silent.
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Aug 16 2005, 01:14 PM
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#3
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Forum Regular Group: Members Posts: 268 Joined: 16-May 05 Member No.: 20,354 |
So, if I log out of Windows, my firewall is still running, but my computer isn't completely protected?
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Aug 16 2005, 01:41 PM
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 New Member Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 13-August 05 Member No.: 30,920 |
QUOTE(PCIlliterateGal @ Aug 16 2005, 08:14 PM) So, if I log out of Windows, my firewall is still running, but my computer isn't completely protected? Yes, but remember that your firewall only protects you from online threats. If you're online, your chances of getting viruses, spyware, hijacked etc are much greater. However, if you have a firewall enabled it should keep out those nasties. A good firewall to have is the one from Zonelabs, (Zonealarm). I find the built-in firewall in windows XP not bad though, it is the one I use. 
-------------------- MaJoRfAtCaT
In Malware Business |
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Aug 16 2005, 09:13 PM
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Forum Addict Group: Global Moderator Posts: 20,642 Joined: 11-April 04 From: Chicago, Il. Member No.: 113 |
When you are not online, or doing "on-line activities" like reading previously downloaded Email, your computer is relatively safe; it is not that you are not completely protected, it is rather that you don't need the same high level of protection (hence you scan your hard drive with your Anti-virus).
To conserve CPU usage, I generally exit my resident firewall when I am not online and doing activities requiring a lot of processing, and do so with perfect safety. Regards, John -------------------- Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one should be silent.
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Aug 18 2005, 11:19 PM
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Forum Regular Group: Members Posts: 268 Joined: 16-May 05 Member No.: 20,354 |
QUOTE(MajorFatCat @ Aug 16 2005, 01:41 PM) Yes, but remember that your firewall only protects you from online threats. Really? Looks like ZoneAlarm is blocking almost as much stuff while I'm logged into Windows, but not using Internet Explorer. |
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Aug 18 2005, 11:28 PM
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#7
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Forum Regular Group: Members Posts: 268 Joined: 16-May 05 Member No.: 20,354 |
QUOTE(jgweed @ Aug 16 2005, 09:13 PM) When you are not online, or doing "on-line activities" like reading previously downloaded Email, your computer is relatively safe; it is not that you are not completely protected, it is rather that you don't need the same high level of protection (hence you scan your hard drive with your Anti-virus). To conserve CPU usage, I generally exit my resident firewall when I am not online and doing activities requiring a lot of processing, and do so with perfect safety. Oh, okay. But what if I'm not logged into Windows at all? Does the firewall block anything then? I know the threat is substantially reduced when I'm not on the Internet, but it looks like ZoneAlarm starts blocking threats as soon as I log in to Windows. I used to keep my computer at the Windows login screen when I wasn't using the computer, but I was thinking maybe the firewall wasn't blocking threats, so I started turning off my computer whenever it wasn't in use. Since I use my computer a lot, it can be a hassle. This post has been edited by PCIlliterateGal: Aug 18 2005, 11:41 PM |
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Aug 18 2005, 11:43 PM
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#8
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Forum Addict Group: Global Moderator Posts: 20,642 Joined: 11-April 04 From: Chicago, Il. Member No.: 113 |
It may be simply Z/A informing you of application changes made when you updated them, or giving you notice of internal communications between applications. Without seeing what the messages are, I cannot say for certain that it was or was not blocking "threats" or simply doing something else.
If Z/A launches on boot up, anytime you start Windows, it should be running whether or not you are on the Net. It is a good idea, if you are not going to use your computer for a protracted period of time, to turn it off; this not only saves electricity, but allows it to reset itself (whenever you see the Windows screen, you can assume that some part of the Windows OS is already running or you would not see the screen itself. Regards, John -------------------- Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one should be silent.
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