No Firewall

Ken68

Just checked with SHIELDS UP and passed with flying colours.
Yet I have no firewall other than that on Windows XP and Plusnet router.
Would you think I am still at risk ?

Kane99uk

Short answer - yes. Majority of all viruses, trojans etc are designed to bypass the default Windows firewall as if it didn't exist. Would recommend picking ZoneAlarm (www.zonealarm.com) for a free firewall, and AVG (free.avg.com) for a free anti-virus. Although not usually harmful (but can be on occassion) you could also download free anti-spyware programmes such as Spybot Search & Destroy (www.spybot.com) or SAS (www.superantispyware.com) to help clear out tracing cookies used by marketing companies - this should also speed up your browsing.

[Deleted User]

Kane99uk wrote: »

Majority of all viruses, trojans etc are designed to bypass software firewalls as if they don't exist.

Fixed that up for you.

To be honest OP, as long as you've got adequate anti virus and use common sense when you're browsing you'll be fine.

It makes me wonder what some posters on here do with their time on the internet if they have so many things to 'lock' their computers down..

adouglasmhor

Get Ubuntu linux as an OS or if you really must visit dodgy sties sites PC-BSD

Kane99uk

anewhope wrote: »

Fixed that up for you...

Didn't need fixing, but thanks I guess.

anewhope wrote: »

It makes me wonder what some posters on here do with their time on the internet if they have so many things to 'lock' their computers down..

Post was merely recommending a few free programmes to beef up security - never hurts to run a scan once or twice a week if you do a lot of browsing. Hardly a big impact on time spent on the computer.

Makes me wonder why some people can't accept free advice without being sarcastic.

Ken68

Have Comodo 3 but disabled. Have Superantispyware and Avast and Adaware and Spyware Blaster and Iobit and Tune up something. Actually think I'm overdoing it, and without Comodo on running like silk. Looking now to disable some or one of these others. Less is more if you see what I mean.

totalsolutions

Ken68 You will be ok. Have you listened to all the security now podcasts? The NAT router is all you need and some common sense.

Cat695

A firewall is USELESS if you unintentionally download a file (email etc) that has a virus attached that you don't know about....so a good anti virus and antispyware (and kept upto date) is all you really need

Cure is better than prevention in the case of viruses as they can be downloaded unitentionally

Ken68

Don't know if this is a NAT router I have, supplied by Plus Net and according to my account, set at LOW.
Tis a Voyager 210.
Anyway running smooth, and also got rid of Spybot as it wasn't finding anything when Adaware subsequently did......
Iobit seems good and of course cCleaner.

totalsolutions

Ken68, All routers do NAT. Your spec sheet HERE

Ken68

Thank you total.
Could you answer another query?
In event viewer under System it keeps reporting

"The IP address lease 192.168.1.2 for the network card
with network address 0..etc has been denied by the DHCP server 192.168.1.1"

and Marked as Event ID 1003

And the help file says no user action.

And in the Application section of Event viewer it says

"TraceFileName parameter not located in the registry.Default trace file used .%1.

Marked as Event ID 1002 Again no action by user.

Is there anything to worry about.??