Software Based Firewalls

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slapyomoma

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Apr 16, 2001
Messages
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Haven't needed a firewall in some time. Any good recommendations on a software related firewall for Windows 7?
 
Can't really get into the Windows Firewall. Not only that, it seems like it is always a target for malicious activity.
 
I mean, I like Windows as an OS only because it is a platform for pretty much every app on the planet. I can't get into using a firewall that is embedded into my OS. Something suspicious about that to me. I always get the feeling that if MS want to see what I am doing, the firewall would not stop them as it is theirs to start with. so in other words, if they wanted to bypass it, they could. If they wanted to OS to report something to them, it wouldn't be a problem.
 
slapyomoma said:
I mean, I like Windows as an OS only because it is a platform for pretty much every app on the planet. I can't get into using a firewall that is embedded into my OS. Something suspicious about that to me. I always get the feeling that if MS want to see what I am doing, the firewall would not stop them as it is theirs to start with. so in other words, if they wanted to bypass it, they could. If they wanted to OS to report something to them, it wouldn't be a problem.
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Using a different firewall would not stop MS from doing that.
 
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slapyomoma said:
I mean, I like Windows as an OS only because it is a platform for pretty much every app on the planet. I can't get into using a firewall that is embedded into my OS. Something suspicious about that to me. I always get the feeling that if MS want to see what I am doing, the firewall would not stop them as it is theirs to start with. so in other words, if they wanted to bypass it, they could. If they wanted to OS to report something to them, it wouldn't be a problem.
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Your logic is illogical. Only reason to use a third party software firewall is if you want to easily manage outbound activity better.

If you're worried about a third party monitoring your activity then you definitely don't want to be using any search engines, allowing browser and flash cookies and a bunch of other things on your computer. As a matter of fact you might as well unplug your network connection. That'll fix your firewall problem too.
 
Mister Natural said:
Your logic is illogical. Only reason to use a third party software firewall is if you want to easily manage outbound activity better.
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It may be illogical, but I feel more comfortable using a third party. That's all opinionated.

Mister Natural said:
As a matter of fact you might as well unplug your network connection. That'll fix your firewall problem too.
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Talk about illogical?? What is the logic in this :rolleyes:
 
slapyomoma said:
Talk about illogical?? What is the logic in this :rolleyes:
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If you want to be 100% sure that the NSA/CIA/FBI or even regular companies like MS are not going to monitor what you do then the only sure way is to not use a computer or cell phone or any kind of technology and go live out in the woods.
 
AMD_Gamer said:
If you want to be 100% sure that the NSA/CIA/FBI or even regular companies like MS are not going to monitor what you do then the only sure way is to not use a computer or cell phone or any kind of technology and go live out in the woods.
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GUYS!!!!

This thread is going waaaaay LEFT. And neither one of these comments (aside from the Comodo link) is satisfying the original question.

just need a third party firewall, THAT'S IT
 
The reason it's sidetracked is because it's stupid... Just use the Windows one and be done with it.
 
slapyomoma said:
GUYS!!!!

This thread is going waaaaay LEFT. And neither one of these comments (aside from the Comodo link) is satisfying the original question.

just need a third party firewall, THAT'S IT
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hehe :eek:

+1 for Comodo Firewall. Works well, keeps my boss' paranoia tamed.
 
/usr/home said:
The reason it's sidetracked is because it's stupid... Just use the Windows one and be done with it.
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If I wanted to use Windows I wouldn't have posted. Seems like a simple enough question. Regardless of your opinion
 
slapyomoma said:
GUYS!!!!

This thread is going waaaaay LEFT. And neither one of these comments (aside from the Comodo link) is satisfying the original question.

just need a third party firewall, THAT'S IT
Click to expand...

You brought it up. How do you know that 3rd party is not really an NSA operation?

We are trying to help you out here and explain the reality to you.
 
How do you know the thirdparty software isn't secretly reporting your network activity to the FBI or Microsoft or RIAA? If you REALLY want to see if Microsoft is logging your activity, just run Wireshark. If you have a decent router, the Windows Firewall does just fine.
 
/usr/home said:
How do you know the thirdparty software isn't secretly reporting your network activity to the FBI or Microsoft or RIAA? If you REALLY want to see if Microsoft is logging your activity, just run Wireshark. If you have a decent router, the Windows Firewall does just fine.
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How do you know that will work? maybe Windows is setup to log and report when it thinks the user is not around? like no activity or during certain hours? Maybe it disguises itself as connecting to windows update or something like that.
 
AMD_Gamer said:
How do you know that will work? maybe Windows is setup to log and report when it thinks the user is not around? like no activity or during certain hours? Maybe it disguises itself as connecting to windows update or something like that.
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Then we should just go Apple then... oh wait. I guess he'll never be safe. Not even with Linux. What if it reports when he updates the kernel?
 
Sounds like you should invest in a logic analyzer. Just look at the contents of every single ethernet frame off the wire.
 
slapyomoma said:
Thanks, I will try it. Bunch of paranoids here. If it doesn't work out, I will find another forum to ask a simple question.
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LOL Wait a sec. You start a thread because you are scared that Microsoft for some unknown reason is giong to single you out from the Billions that use Windows by utilizing some backdoor in the built-in firewall and you want to stop that by using a third party firewall and everyone else in the thread is a "paranoids". Yeah.

Please Slapyomoma, please don't go. What will we do without you? Also what Mister Natural posted is sound advice.
 
i have to say one thing (not to be rude or anything) if Microsoft had put in a backdoor to there firewall, someone would have found out already (most likely trying to hack it) and it would be all over the internet and MS would be in hot water.
 
tin-foil-hat1.jpg


My soul is prepared, how's yours?
 
Poplap said:
i have to say one thing (not to be rude or anything) if Microsoft had put in a backdoor to there firewall, someone would have found out already (most likely trying to hack it) and it would be all over the internet and MS would be in hot water.
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How do you know it is active? They could do a directed update to a certain machine they want to monitor via Windows Update.

Maybe something else triggers it?
 
Comodo is very, very good but I wish you the best of luck configuring it. When I used to use it, the annoying part is having to allow every program you use on Comodo because some programs use different files to access something or different ports or multiple IP addresses.

Is that a bad thing? Nah. That tells me (and you) that it's doing a pretty damn good job monitoring your network activity, but Comodo Firewall can be a paranoid, overprotective parent at times.

I've went back to Windows Firewall for less headaches though.
 
AMD_Gamer said:
How do you know it is active? They could do a directed update to a certain machine they want to monitor via Windows Update.

Maybe something else triggers it?
Click to expand...

believe me if there was an exploit, even if it was using the phrase "i want your pornz" someone would have found out about it. MS is not in the business of data collection. besides would governments be using it for their top secret computers to if it was as easy as updating windows for MS to get in??
 
slapyomoma said:
I mean, I like Windows as an OS only because it is a platform for pretty much every app on the planet. I can't get into using a firewall that is embedded into my OS. Something suspicious about that to me. I always get the feeling that if MS want to see what I am doing, the firewall would not stop them as it is theirs to start with. so in other words, if they wanted to bypass it, they could. If they wanted to OS to report something to them, it wouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a mental disorder, get help man.
 
Guys, I agree with one of the responses: The biggest advantage to a third-party software firewall is to better manage outgoing connections. The default Windows firewall can block incoming exploits but cannot block outgoing exploits. However, that disadvantage shows up only if the computer is connected directly to the Internet (using a modem only, with no router at all whatsoever).
 
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