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Test Your Firewall

November 2, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

So you have a firewall. How do you know that the firewall is working properly? Here’s a terrific resource for checking your firewall strength: GRC Shields Up! The site has been around a long, long time (I remember it waaaay back about 6 years ago now! Maybe even older!). I rely on it to tell me how my firewall is performing. It’s free to use and it’s very comprehensive.

Basically, Shields Up! attacks your computer. No, not with a virus– with packets. The system will inspect your computer’s ports for vulnerabilities, and inform you of them after each test. You are then given some recommendations for improving your security.

You DO use a firewall…. right?

Posted in free stuff, security programs. Tags: firewall, security. Comments Off »

Free Antivirus Programs

March 27, 2009 — Mrs. Mecomber

Every computer should have an anti-virus software program running, as well as a firewall. Back in the early days of the Internet, before baddies like trojans, worms, and viruses were invented and dispersed, security wasn’t much of an issue. But as with all things, people have taken the benefits of technology and have twisted them around for selfish gain. Your computer is severely at risk if you connect online without a firewall and anti-virus.

The great thing is that some people have made terrific software programs and offer them free of charge! And another great thing is that security your computer is easy- it does require effort and maintenance, but it’s not like moving trucks or anything! Here’s a brief list of some highly-rated anti-virus programs.

Some firewalls are now coming with an anti-virus built in to the program. I see that Comodo Pro Firewall (my favorite firewall) now includes an anti-virus. And AVG Anti-Virus Pro version now includes a firewall. I haven’t tested any of these extras: I still use just the Comodo firewall and the separate AVG anti-virus. Be aware that any software maker is going to market the paid-for version. So you may have to look around on the websites for the free version. The free versions give you just as much protection as the paid-for versions, have no fear, and they do regularly update. The paid-for versions usually have more bells and whistles, additional software, and offer tech support. Free versions almost never give tech support; but the forums for the product can be very helpful if you have questions or problems.

Also, be VERY careful where you get your downloads from. There has been a sudden increase in phishing sites set up to sound like or look like the real download site. What you wind up downloading is a trojan! If I ever have any doubts about the website I am on, I check the site with a nifty toolbar called Netcraft. It’s available for Firefox and Internet Explorer. I wrote about Netcraft here.

Install only one anti-virus program on your computer; two or more sometimes conflict with each other. It is also important to keep your anti-virus updated. The updates are crucial, ensuring that the anti-virus program knows what malicious files it needs to watch for.

Posted in anti-virus, firewalls, free stuff, security programs. Tags: anti-virus, firewall, Netcraft. 6 Comments »

Securing Your Computer with a Firewall

March 10, 2009 — Mrs. Mecomber

Gone are the days when you could just connect your computer to your Internet connection and let ‘er rip. Viruses, worms, trojans, and malware are circulating on the Internet, seeking an open door or window (commonly called ports for computers) or an unsuspecting user who will download a file, open an email, or visit a malicious site to steal personal information. It is absolutely crucial that you secure your computer before you ever plug it into the modem. In this post, I’m going to give you some information and links to free firewall programs that you can download and install.

In a nutshell, think of a firewall as a door. Your computer has many doors, to let information in and out. But you want to control the stuff that comes in and out of the doors– this is where the firewall comes in. The firewall will watch which doors are opening and closing, and will ask you if you want to let certain information in and out. Without a firewall, your doors are wide open for anything and everything to flow in and out. Also, when you first install and use your firewall, the firewall will ask you a LOT of questions at first. It will notify you every time it senses some data wanting to come in or out. Some people grow weary of all the questions, but the firewall will remember your answers if you tell it to (usually this requires checking a box that says “remember my answer” or something like it). Over time, the firewall will build a list of programs you are allowing in and programs you are blocking. So don’t go crazy when your new firewall pummels you with a ton of questions in the beginning; it will quiet down.

If you are interested in learning more about how firewalls work, there’s a good article about it at How Stuff Works.

Photo courtesy of How Stuff Works.

You may be thinking, “How can I download and install anything when I shouldn’t even connect to the Internet yet?” Well, there are a few ways to go about this:

1. You can use a different computer (a secure one) to download the programs. For example, a friend’s computer- your friend can download the programs and put them on a CD or a flash drive. You can install them from the CD or flash drive before connecting to the Internet.

2. You can temporarily activate the Windows firewall. Windows firewall is a program only on XP or Vista computers (older versions do not have it).

In the previous XP versions, the Windows firewall was disabled by default. I found this out the hard way when, several years ago, I plugged in my new XP laptop into the modem. Within 1/2 an hour of being online without a firewall, my new computer was infected with the Blaster worm. The computer kept shutting down and rebooting– I had to completely reformat my computer to get rid of it. :-p

I understand that Windows Vista, and new computers with Windows XP, now come with the Windows firewall enabled. But it would be wise to check first. Go to Control Panel and look for something that says “Security Center” or “Windows Firewall.” (The names vary, depending on your Windows version). Look for “firewall” and make sure it is operational.

OK, so now perhaps you are thinking, “Well, why get a different firewall when Windows already has one?” The Windows firewall is not very powerful. It will keep most bad traffic from entering your computer system, but it doesn’t do much to stop any malware from “phoning home” from your computer to other computers out on the Internet. And the Windows firewall is extremely basic, with few options. Firewalls can be a bit complicated to configure, but you don’t want anything as simple as Windows firewall. It’s too risky. There are free firewall programs that do a much better job protecting your computer. Some come with added stuff, like an anti-virus program, spyware checkers, etc. I prefer to keep my programs simple, rather than have the “one size fits all” kind of program. I have a separate firewall, a separate anti-virus, several different spyware checkers, and etc. That’s what I prefer. You may decide otherwise.

Here are some links to some good, free firewalls. You may have to hunt around for the free programs because the manufacturers like to promote their “professional” versions. But the free ones are there! Just for the record, I use Comodo.

Comodo Firewall Pro
Zone Alarm
Agnitum
Ashampoo Firewall Free
Sunbelt Kerio Free Firewall

You should only have one firewall running on your computer. Two or more may cause connection problems. So after you download and install your third-party firewall, disable the Windows Firewall.

Note: be aware that with free firewalls and anti-virus programs, there is no personal support for them. If you need help figuring out the program or troubleshooting errors, you are on your own. The paid-for versions offer tech support.

Firewall software vendors usually have support forums or knowledgebases to help you use the program or solve problems. You have to search for answers and configure the program yourself. Another option if you run into trouble: you can always do a search by asking a question in the search engine. It helps to be as specific as possible when you search.

In the next post about computer security, I’ll address the importance of anti-virus and malware programs.

Posted in firewalls, free programs, security how-to. Tags: firewall, security. Comments Off »

Three Steps to Protect Your Computer Before You Go Online

January 29, 2009 — Mrs. Mecomber

I got my first laptop, an HP Pavilion, in 2003; it came pre-loaded with Windows XP. I made the mistake of connecting it to the Internet BEFORE turning on Windows Firewall. (Oddly, Windows Firewall was turned off by default– DUH!). While downloading Windows updates the first few minutes of using the laptop, I was hit with the Blaster worm. My laptop suddenly shut off– *poof* — then restarted. Then shut off, restarted, shut off, restarted…. I was terrified. I’d just bought the thing and it acted like a zombie.

Circuit City customer service told me my laptop had been infected with the Blaster worm. I had to reformat the entire operating system (thank God, Windows supplied disks back then).

It was a good lesson– turn on the Windows Firewall before ever connecting the machine to the Internet. I always use third party firewalls (Comodo), but I always turn the Windows Firewall on before I get the third party download.

Windows Firewall not comes turned ON by default. About time.

Getting a new computer is fun. But you just can’t plug it in to your ethernet and start surfing away. The Internet is too evil to do that, now. Here are some tips:

1.) Activate the Windows Firewall. It’s not the strongest of firewalls, but at least it offers some protection. You can go online, download your third party firewall, and install it. Then, shut off your Windows Firewall.

2.) Download Windows Updates. Oftentimes, computers are preloaded months previously with operating systems. As the weeks or months pass while the computer sits on the shelf, waiting to be purchased, Windows Updats come and go. Security holes are discovered and plugged. You don;t know when your operating system was installed– download the updates first thing. Sometimes this can be a real pain– downloading updates can take hours– you just got a new computer and want to use it! But the updates are important.

3.) Get an anti-virus program going. Windows now has something, I think. But again, I prefer third party (AVG). Download it, update it, and get it going.

You can read more tiips and some how to’s at the Microsoft website, including how to activate the Windows Firewall, which can be difficult to find in XP.