Firewall and AH compatability

[Maverick]

The other night as I was closing down the puter after being on the bbs I got an interesting notice. The computer put up the same message it does as if the other unit on my lan is still connected. The lan was down. I guess that means that someone was on my computer through the internet and my DSL connection.   I have since discontinued leaving my system connected if I am not using it.

Here is my question. Does Mcafee's firewall allow you to play AH or does ANY firewall allow that? I am very uncomfortable now with the vulnerability. Any ideas or suggestions?

Please type slowly and use small words, puter dweeb here.  

Thanks in advance.

Mav  

[jihad]

 I use AtGuard with no problems,it was bought by Norton so you can`t get the version I`m running. Go to -> http://grc.com/steve.htm  and try Shields Up,I hear it`s difficult to configure for AH though.

[whels1]

I use ZoneAlarm on mine, with no problems with gaming. http://www.zonelabs.com/default.htm

Whels

 

Originally posted by Maverick:
The other night as I was closing down the puter after being on the bbs I got an interesting notice. The computer put up the same message it does as if the other unit on my lan is still connected. The lan was down. I guess that means that someone was on my computer through the internet and my DSL connection.   I have since discontinued leaving my system connected if I am not using it.

Here is my question. Does Mcafee's firewall allow you to play AH or does ANY firewall allow that? I am very uncomfortable now with the vulnerability. Any ideas or suggestions?

Please type slowly and use small words, puter dweeb here.  

Thanks in advance.

Mav  

[prz]

what I have is a small linksys router (it goes for about 100 bucks) and it's firewalling and doing the DSL dialup and everything else (DHCP). Because it's doing NAT, it's logically impossible for any third party to dial into your box. NAT also will allow you to hook up multiple PCs on a LAN and connect to Internet with a single IP address. On top of that my connection throughput & delay improved quite a bit (but I'm running PPPoE and that normally gives Windows troubles). So I can recommend that solution if you can spare 100 bucks.

[Stalker]

Use ZoneAlarm also with no game problems.



------------------
Damned Stalker

[SKurj]

Zonealarm gives me frame stutter in game.  This may be the result of a slightly overtaxed cpu in game, I'm not sure.  Some have mentioned that they also experience this, and attribute it to the sys bar icon for Zonealarm.

SKurj

[-lynx-]

prz - Mav asked for "small words"?   Can you go through this again, albeit slowly and without NATs and PPPoEs?


I'm considering ADSL and a thought of someone sneaking into my PC is not a comforting one...

------------------
lynx
13 Sqn RAF

[sling322]

I am using McAfee Firewall Mav.  You just have to set Aces High up as a program that can access the internet.  It has a bunch of different settings you can use.  Basically you can tell it what programs you want to have access to the internet.  Also, make sure you have your computer set up where you cant share files with other computers.  That can keep anyone who might get into your system from messing with anything too much.

[Maverick]

All

Thank you VERY much for the info. I have setup Zone alarm. I will boot up AH in a few to try it out but the initial start and web browsing was very smooth. I'll post again and see if there is any video stuttering. If there is, I might just take a chance and disable it when I am on AH only.

Thanks again.

Mav

[Eagler]

 

Originally posted by Maverick:
All

Thank you VERY much for the info. I have setup Zone alarm. I will boot up AH in a few to try it out but the initial start and web browsing was very smooth. I'll post again and see if there is any video stuttering. If there is, I might just take a chance and disable it when I am on AH only.

Thanks again.

Mav

I have to disable zone alarm on ocassion when in AH. Great program though. Check it by running Shields Ups at: http://grc.com/su-firewalls.htm

Eagler

[Maverick]

Well so far so good. I had one lock up and one successful entry into AH. Looks like I am going to be able to use this. Again, Thanks guys.

Mav

[prz]

lynx, beside you many people asked so here I go. Basically instead of runnjing "more" software like firewalls, additoinal DSL protocols and other garb to slow down and destabilize your PC, you can have a small device (about 100 bucks) that allows you to hook-up multiple PCs to it and it will configure them automatically when they boot and allow them to share one IP address. That makes break in basically impossible since the only address visible to the outside-world is your linksys (there are other brands) router and this one is basically refusing any request. That has some other advantages, e.g. I observe that DSL throughput goes up (has to do with the fact that a key DSL protocol: PPPoE is mostly implemented worse in windows than in a good router like the one I describe. Also the fact that the router is doing buffering of packets helps, I have a very nice connect to HTC now). I would consider dropping 100 bucks for the solution and 140 for the 4 ether port solution if you have multiple PCs definitely. The router works with Linux/cable and your future platforms so it's kind of good investement.

Disclosure: I'm not affiliated with Linksys or anybody selling Linksys stuff _at all_.

try
 http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=142&grid=5

or
 http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=20&grid=5

and you can use cnet to find best price. oither brands are cisco of course, ascend (lucent now), nortel and piles others.

[prz]

oops, forgot one thing, the router solution has one disadvantage: you cannot host RW since you don't have a "real" address on your PC ;-) and the router doesn't want to deal with RW, could be a break-in application, you know ;-))

[Maverick]

PRZ,

Question for ya. Does that router need to use an external DSL modem or will it still work if you use an internal? I have the internal one on my system. Also is it a USB or some other type of connection. I have a 2 system LAN with my son's puter on the other end of a lynksys system. (LAN in a box) My son's puter is not usb capable.

ps Zone alarm is working fine other than I have to disable it to play games. It does cause significant frame stutter in tribes and locks my system up in AH.  

Mav

[prz]

won't work with internal modem, U need external modem with ether port. There is a linksys router that has 1 USB port and 3 ethers so one PC doesn't need a network card