The Microsoft firewall with XP does not monitor OUTGOING traffic. That is what
is wrong with the firewall with XP. In a scenario where a
worm-virus-adware-slimeware slips into a system often via browser, email, or IM,
the user of the computer has zero warning that something nasty is going on when
the slimware calls home or siphons off credit card data or passwords. A
capable firewall like ZoneAlarm does catch attempts for new programs to access
the net from the inside. I have used ZoneAlarm for a while now, and there are
other competent firewalls available.

Surprise!!! Part of the WOW! of Vista is a Microsoft firewall that monitors
outgoing traffic. I do not know if Microsoft got it right with its Vista
firewall.

I also like Free AVG as a not at all hoggish anti-virus. I use it, and I
install it for my clients to use.

To remove Norton Anti-Virus completely is a bit of a challenge, but it can be
removed more or less by removing all its bits followed by the LiveUpdate.
Finally, a good cleaner utility like CCleaner (short for Crap Cleaner) can
remove all the Norton Anti-Virus garbage left behind.

NAV in particular has a very sloppy and incomplete uninstall, and Microsoft's
rules for putting stuff in the registry are overly complicated and convoluted.
Not sure if I can blame Symantec for being sloppy or Microsoft.

.... Ben Myers

On Sat, 5 May 2007 20:48:37 -0400, "HH" wrote:

What's wrong with the firewall that comes with XP?

HH


"glf" wrote in message
...
Which firewall to use with it?

L
"Colin Wilson" o.uk
wrote in message t...
I have Norton 360 installed on a presario s4200nx & it is slowing the pc
down alot.
Which antivirus & firewall would you recommend using? I have been
thinking
about trying Avg free & Zone Alarm.
And,what's the best way to remove all of the Norton?

You could always try the program formerly known as Dell Decrapifier
(now at www.pcdecrapifier.com)

As an alternative to AVG free, how about Kaspsersky for free ?

http://www.activevirusshield.com

It was made available via a deal with AOL, but you don't need to be
with AOL to use it. Don't bother installing the toolbar (some utils
wrongly report it as spyware anyway).