Firewall disabling

Does winXP have its own firewall? If so, how do you disable or at least downgrade the level of protection. Someone I know is having trouble running online games on his PC and figures it's the firewall protection. Where can I read up on this? (I know how to setup and confugure my 3rd party firewall software but not XP).

Thx,

 

Yes and see this.

HTH.

 

If you're looking for additional reading on this topic, open your Help & Support Center and type Firewall in the search field. You'll learn more than you probably ever wanted to know about XP's firewall.

HTH

 

How to enable...

I have been trying to find this info out for the last 2 weeks.

I followed these instructions from the above post info & I can't seem to find the right screen to get to my firewall.I have been wanting to enable mine,but I'm not sure if it is already enabled or not.
After following the se instructions,all I can come to is,the same info that I can get from clicking on Tools/Internet Options.
That is the screen that I come to everytime.

Does someone have some specific info on how to get to my firewall.

Thanks for any info in advance.

 

Drag Racer:

I am assuming from your post that you have Control Panel set up for Category View, which is the default view in XP. So these directions should get you where you want to be;

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click on the Network and Internet Connections icon.
3. Under "or Pick a Control Panel Option" click on Network Connections.
4. In the window that opens you should see "Dial-Up" and "LAN or High Speed Internet" connections listed. Under Status on the right side of the window you should see the word "Firewalled" if the firewall is active, or "Disabled" if the firewall has been turned off.
5. To change the setting, right click on the connection of your choice and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
6. On the properties window select the Advanced Tab. At the top of this page you should see the setting entitled "Internet Connection Firewall ". Place a checkmark in the box to enable or remove the checkmark to disable the firewall.

If you have Control Panel set to Classic View double click on the Network Connections icon and follow the directions in Steps 4 through 6 above.

HTH

 

I am beginning to believe third-party firewall app sellers overstate the vulnerability of the home user system and thereby unjustly enrich themselves with scare tactics.

The ISP has a firewall and XP has ICP, and then there are passwords for sensitive data that are machine specific. If that has been compromised, there are security measures taken by financial centers, etc. Who would spend time trying to crack into a home computer? However, enterprises, financial and government centers may have problems and much to lose and the threat should be taken seriously. Home users don't need all the **** that is on the market.

 

KenKeith, people like you are my bread and butter. Home users DO need firewalls, and no, no one wastes time trying to compromise home computers, it is much easier to write a little proggie to do it for you and then automatically search for comps that fit your parameters, especially ones that are on broadband, and launch DOS attacks (Denial of Service) on target servers. This slows down your system, invades your privacy, and cripples parts of the net. On a cable connection there are all sorts of things you don't want to let in, Trojans, port probes, etc...when you turn on your browser and start clicking you are also inviting an assortment of unfriendly attention. Malicious code even comes inadvertently from reputable sources. By the time these damaged systems come into the shop, it is easier to NFDisk them and start over.

I had compatibility problems on my personal system, and since I trust Symantec, the XP firewall was redundant, and I disabled it. I have had to disable it on every client's system that uses a router, too. There are several good software alternatives available if you want to kill the XP firewall, but it was nice of M$ to include it and enable it by default for the new users who don't know any better. BTW, XP's firewall is only a One Way firewall- it won't let info in. It has no effect on info OUT. (Prob just a little M$ joke!)

But, hey, I get $200 everytime I have to do a wipe and reinstall...keeps my kids in shoes!

 

And a PF would do this?

 

I know this BBS was hacked and incurred major damage. No doubt precautions have to be maintained (even on a real time basis) for some installations. I know of no other instances and that includes about 4 years on this BBS. No complaints, just paranoia.

People that know how to format and reinstall their OS will save $200. REQUIRED current backup of all important files. For those that need to pay, that price may be less than it would cost for so-called prevention. Protect one's privacy! Hell, there isn't any left to protect.

 

Rod,
I followed your steps & found what I was looking for.

The firewall was disabled,so I checked the box & enabled it.I have never ran it since I got my PC in January 2003.

I figured since my PC already has a firewall & a free trial of Norton's anti-virus,I might as well use them.

Thanks for all the info.NOW,If I can just get rid of the this friggin Veritas Window update messanger.

 

Drag Racer:

Thanks for posting back. Glad to know that you were able to find the setting you were looking for.

I'm a little confused, are you asking how to disable Windows Automatic Update, or Windows Messenger?

To disable or change the Windows Automatic Update settings;

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop.
2. Select Properties on the pop-up menu
3. Click on the Automatic Updates tab.

To disable Windows Messenger;

1. Open Control Panel and click on Performance and Maintenance.
2. Under "or Pick a Control Panel icon" click on Administrative Tools.
3. In the window that opens double click on Services.
4. Scroll down to the Messenger Service, right click on it and select Stop from the pop-up menu.

HTH

 

I would have agreed had I not myself been hacked by an over-enthusiastic University student. He went through a loophole in ICQ security (although they won't admit to it), went through my BlackIce FW software and deleted everything on one of my logical drives (luckily it was only a game drive, nothing serious). As a result I rarely use ICQ anymore and am leary of keeping my PC on and being attached to the internet constantly. I backup my data often but that isn't the point. If I had to reinstall windows and all my software again, THAT would be a major annoyance.

I woudn't be so quick to poo-poo firewalls on your home system.
You're only as safe as the spot on the ground you stand on (don't look up, something might hit you)!

Been there, had that done to me,

 

To disable Windows Messenger;

1. Open Control Panel and click on Performance and Maintenance.
2. Under "or Pick a Control Panel icon" click on Administrative Tools.
3. In the window that opens double click on Services.
4. Scroll down to the Messenger Service, right click on it and select Stop from the pop-up menu.


Rod,
Much thanks to you.I have followed these same steps that were first given to me by Johanna on a separate thread.I followed these steps & the VERITAS messanger was still popping up.
I have tried these steps again,since you also recommended this,so I will get back & let you know if this works.

I will report back on MY VERITAS thread & keep it off this thread,since it has nothing to do with firewalls.

I really appreciate the steps to take for enableing the firewall.

Thanks.

 

Did you try disabling windows automatic update feature in the manner that Rod stated? I would think that since it's part of windows it would probably be done through that. I've only been running XP for a week now but have yet to be asked to update it. The win auto-update is one of the first things I turned off which may or may not be why.

 

Drag Racer:

I will look for your response in your Keep getting Verita's update...Will it stop ? thread.

Rod

 

Rod,

I have a question about the XP firewall also. I know how to get to it to enable / disable it. I have AOL as my ISP. Either way I try to enable / disable it for AOL , either by right clicking on the AOL conncection icon and then properties, or by hi-lighting my AOL icon and clicking on change settings of this connection, nothing will display. I can change it with all other connection icons by using these steps, just not my AOL one.

Can you tell me why this is happening, that I cannot display the properties for my AOL connection, therefore not being able to display my XP firewall status or change it for AOL.

Thanks,

Tar Heel

 

I have never used AOL but I would assume that it would work the same way as it does with any other connection, just as you've described. Sorry, but the only other suggestion I would have is that you try sending a message to AOL to see if they have an answer to the problem.

Sorry,

Rod

 

Thanks for the suggestion Rod, will do.

Tar Heel

 

Here is another way to enable/disable Windows XP Firewall. Click START, highlight CONNECT TO, select the connection in question. Then select PROPERTIES, select ADVANCED, and VIOLA! There is the box to enable/disable the Firewall.
The XP Firewall is better than nothing, but I recommend using a third pary firewall. Sometimes set your third party firewall to notify you of every intrusion attempt, just to see how many there are. It ia a lot. All of us are taking hits all of the time. By default the firewall is set not to notify except for critical events, because it is a constant distraction. No doubt but that homeusers need firewalls. These bad guys set a program to automatically search the internet for an unprotected computer. Then they can come back and do the damage.
I use the free version of ZoneAlarm, which is good enough for the average home user. But BlackIce is especially good about giving you MORE INFORMATION, if you select that box when you get a notification. They say that sometimes hackers have stolen some files, and are looking for an unprotected computer to hide them. "The cops are after them ", whatever that means. The individual user whose computer is used in this way never knows a thing, and could not care less. It is a general internet security issue. I suppose that is why ZoneAlarm provides a free firewall.

EDIT: When you select the connection in step one above, you might inadvertently connect when you do not want to. If you are already connected, no problem. But to do this without making a connection highlight CONNECT TO. then right-click the connection in question, and select PROPERTIES. Then select ADVANCED.

 

Mike,

That position is not inconsistent with what I said:
A good backup will/should enable a complete recovery. Cost vs. annoyance is an individual decision based on what one has to lose in time, inconvenience, and one's own technical ability, etc. to recover. Factor in the possibility of being hacked being minimal is also a consideration!

If downtime of a computer is critical to one's business, there is a real risk that can be put into monetary terms. Risk/benefit can be quantified and in a business sense there be a risk that should not be ignored.