Don't forget to make sure to create a user account with limited privileges.
However after looking at the list there are some ports that are used by "legitimate" protocols such as http, & ftp etc.
http uses: 80
ftp: 21

THe good thing about ZoneAlarm (depends on how you have it configured) is that it will tell you that program has launched and wants to connect to such and such address on such and such port using such and such service. I have mine configured that way, so your mileage mayvary.
God Bless,
Will

A firewall is *especially* important if you're a broadband subscriber; i.e. cable, DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Dial-up users aren't at such risk, but broadband users are prime cracker targets (cracker = criminal hacker), since the connections are so much faster and always on. Always on as long as the computer's powered on, anyway.

I read about an experiment where personnel at a computer lab hooked up an unsecured, unpatched Windows computer with no firewall installed to a cable network, just to see what would happen. It took about 23 (twenty-three) minutes for the machine to be cracked.

I'm a dial-up user. Maybe this is why my computer seems so slow. Yes Will, I'm going to create a new account for me to use....

Do I still need a firewall? I have windows XP and have no idea if the firewall that is on my program is working...haven't noticed anything.

Still it won't hurt to install ZoneAlarm or Sygate -- they'll help with Trojans/spyware/adware that's trying to 'phone home'.

Is your machine slow only when online? Then yeah, that'd be because of using dial-up. If it's slow all the time, try the spyware cleanup route. Or better yet, try it anyway! Most likely you'll find some if you've never done it before.


[edit - typo]

[ July 31, 2004, 12:26 AM: Message edited by: John ]

I downloaded ZoneAlarm and now I'm having things pop up that I don't know what to do with...???

like what is "Gator Client Applications" and "Microsoft Application Error reporting"

There are about three others but I rejected them until next time when they pop up (they keep coming). But do any of you know what these two are at all?

"Gator Client Applications" means you have Gator spyware installed on your machine. Disallow that, and run Spybot & Ad-aware to get rid of it!

Microsoft Application Error Reporting phones back to the MSFT servers when you have an application crash. Whether you want MSFT to know what goes on inside your computer is up to you.

ZA will pop up a warning/info box for each program in your machine that tries to access the internet. If it's a program you know is OK, put a check mark in the box that says "Remember this", and tell it OK. From then on it won't bother you about it, but it'll still be checking every time in the background.

If you don't know what the program is, try to find out some more info by a Google search, or at the Zonelabs.com help pages.

Thanks so much John! I really appreciate it.

Do you know any spyware or adware sites that will get rid of what I have on my computer for free? I tried noadware.com but it costs money to get rid of them. I have 65 of them on my computer and this is why it is so slow!

So disgusting!!

Debbie, see the links above to Spybot S&D, and Ad-aware, in my post from July 25th, the one right before Will's 'long list'.