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BexTech

You may not have a dial-up entry, but if you still have your 56K modem attached to a phone line, you need a program that warns you the 56K modem is going to make a connection.

Even with all the latest protection, a dialler may still get through as it maybe a new dialler one not yet recognised by the protection software.

squeaky

A connection out that wouldn't be recognised by ZoneAlarm which monitors all programs trying to connect? ZA asks for confirmation when any new program tries connecting out - and Ad-Watch keeps a close eye on new registry entries.

So the programs you talk of don't have to be on a list they just have to try doing something and will get caught.

Or are you telling me that such a virus could side step both these programs?

BexTech

I did have Zone Alarm, but changed it.

Zone Alarm has to update their program from time to time, as some programs have got around it.

squeaky

Every firewall and anti-virus has to update as the viruses and tricks continually evolve.

That's why I have the programs I have. Because they update. Regularly.

But what I'd still like to know please, is given my security software - can the program you speak of circumvent them?

BexTech

They can, hence the software needs updating regularly, so you may have a few hours or days before a new threat it recognised, and then an update made available. The chance of getting caught out is low if you update as soon as one is available.

This is why even the virus software needs updating from time to time, and not just the definition files.

squeaky

I know about updating regularly - that's why I purposefully chose software that does update regualrly.

I just said so up there ^

BexTech

Yes, you did, I was just trying to answer the best I could the question you asked at the end of the post.

I used to use Zone Alarm, but lately it often blocked access to web browsing, I'd have to shutdown ZA and restart it, so I have changed to Sygate, which seems OK at the moment, I did like ZA just could live with it randomly blocking browsing.

squeaky

Must have been a setting somewhere - I've only ever had one hiccup and it was my own fault when playing around in the gubbins - I turned off animated gifs and couldn't work out how I'd done it

I'm very happy with my set-up, make a point of keeping it up to date, sweep my system once a week in normal start and again once a week in Safe Mode.

The thread Edinburghlass pointed up was for a dial-up account as I read it. You have to have some software on your machine that accepts incoming programs for this and mine is set only to accept fax. I honestly don't see how this could leave me vulnerable.

BexTech

I've un-installed and re-installed the program, though it is a common problem, that quite a few people are having with it.

You can be browsing the web for an hour or two, and then all of a sudden it decides it wants to block access.

squeaky

Nope. Never seen it. Sorry. Mine's the paid for version though and they might not update the freebie quite so often maybe?

I sat on microsoft support sites for a while and Norton and Zone Alarm got the most good mentions. Zone Alarm got sworn at less often than Norton - so that's the one I picked and I've never had cause to regret it.