By default the Vista firewall doesn’t have outbound protection enabled, when enabled it is rule based and you have to create the rules not particularly friendly. However, there is a tool to help with that, Vista Firewall Control, check out this topic for some user friendly help for the Vista Firewall, Outbound protection, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30234.0.
I have Windows XP, not Vista, so does that make a difference?
A big one the XP firewall has no outbound protection at all (not just disabled as with vista).
So You need a firewall that provides outbound protection, there are many free firewalls, however if you are comfortable with McAfee you could do a custom install of your McAfee suite and only enable the firewall, that way you wouldn’t have to buy the McAfee firewall.
See A Forum discussion on free firewalls http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30808.0
See http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php.
Thanks.
Can you answer the question on the infected file and the other scanners?
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any file detected by avast and sent to the chest would be in the Infected Files section.
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When you add a file to the User Files section, on clicking add you get a windows explorer style window, it just happens to open in the avast4 folder. Navigate in the same way you would using explorer to the folder that the file you want to add to the chest is located, select the file and click OK, etc. that adds it to the User Files section.
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Periodically scan your system with the other anti-spyware applications (weekly, fortnightly, etc.) I do a weekly system maintenance and that is when I do on-demand scans with avast, SAS and MBAM. Prior to doing any scan ensure you update those programs.
I wouldn’t give the time of day to AdAware it has really gone downhill from its prime, Spybot S&D I feel is not as good as SAS or MBAM but much better than AdAware. However I believe you can get too much of a good thing and you would spend all your time keeping your security applications up to date and running scans to get any browsing done ;D
You will see what is in my signature, avast, SAS (Pro paid), MBAM and for me that is enough.
That’s me for the night, 2:30a.m. here.
I tried to run the MaCafee firewall only and it asked that avast be removed before continuing.
I reviewed the forum and it appears comodo is a good option for a firewaill, however it comes with any anitvirus program.
Any other recommendations?
KevinB12, how do you connect to the Internet?
The use of an eternal hardware router with a firewall is much better.
Watch the 10 minute video:
http://www.besttechie.net/2008/08/20/malwarebytes-developer-interview
Part 2 is also good.
My cable comes in thru a cable company generic modem thru my wireless router to my computer. I am reading that Dlink, the wireless router does have a firewall, but you may need to enable it. I need to do more investigation.
In the meantime, I have done so much reading on firewalls that I am more confused. Question, is Online Armor free compatiable with avast free? That appears to be the one with the least issues.
I am still in the process of trying to send my suspect file to Alwil to review. I can’t locate the file to add it to User Files section. Am I taking it from the C:\windows or the new suspect folder I set up? I can’t locate the actual file in either location.
Thanks.
Didn’t you send it to the chest when it was first detected (if I remember the early part of this topic) in which case it will be in the Infected Files section of the chest, so there would be no need to add it to the user files section of the chest, you can send it to avast from the infected file section of the chest.
Yes. One of your earlier replies indicated that the file needed to be in the User Files folder.
I have sent the file to Alwil for review. ???
I have just received a response that it was undeliverable to avast at ‘virus@avast.com’
The earlier response also mentioned (if it wasn’t already in the chest), however that is a bit of a moot point if you are getting errors trying to send it.
What was the full text of the error message as it usually gives a reason why it was undeliverable ?
What is your ISP ?
You may have to resort to sending it the conventional way by zipping and password protecting the sample and sending it to avast, however if this problem is at ISP level that may fail also.
The following recipient(s) could not be reached:
'virus@avast.com' on 11/4/2008 8:40 PM
None of your e-mail accounts could send to this recipient
Comcast
Well there should be no reason why they couldn’t send to that recipient unless a) your ISP blocks avast.com (probably not) b) comcast requires authentication and you haven’t completed that in the SMTP section of the avast Program Settings, see image.
If it was the Authentication in b) above then in theory you shouldn’t have a problem sending manually using your email program with the sample as a zipped password protected attachment.
The other question is does comcast use SSL/TLS (secure encrypted) email ?
Which is your email server? @what?
Comcast, as KevinB12 said in the reply to my question about his ISP.
Not sure what you mean by “see image”.
Sorry… so we need another answer…
Also, does it block sending .exe or .zip attached files?
It means click the image that I attached to the post, that expans it and shows a graphical example of what I’m talking about.