On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 08:39:06 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .


And that's another whole subject. I have a wireless router and I keep
the firewall off because of the XP firewall and a specific firewall to
the computer - but...

There are several wireless computers surrounding the homestead in
other homes and I have been infected several times via that route. I
now keep the wireless portion of the router off until I need it.

Even then, I keep a Spy Eye running in the background to make sure
nobody is piggy backing on me.

Later,

Tom


You know what is strange? I've been using computers and accessing the
Internet for years. I've never used any kind of virus protection software.
I tried Spyware once because it was free and I was curious, but it screwed
up the computer, so I uninstalled it. Other than the WiFi thing I mentioned
and one other worm that I got on this computer last winter that I easily
removed, I've never had any problems with getting a serious virus or other
malady.

My wife, on the other hand, has been through several computers and many,
many crashes, burns, virus infections, worms etc. It seems every other
month her computer needs to be disinfected. She uses Norton, keeps it
updated but still whatever computer she has, it eventually gets messed up.

We were talking about it one day and determined that I use my computer very
differently than she. Hers is on a cable connection and she leaves it
connected 24 hours a day. I always disconnect after every use. Also,
unlike she, when using Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, I never leave
the former open when checking mail or the newsgroups on OE. The only time I
open Internet Explorer is to quickly read news, search for something or do
whatever I need it for, then immediately close it.

I don't know enough about computers to be 100% convinced that my habits make
a difference, but I know I don't seem to have the problems she and others
have, even when they are using current anti-virus software.

I have noticed the exact same thing. My wife uses Win XP pro (with the
firewall turned on) but leaves it up all day on the cable modem. She
has NAV running as well, yet she has had more than a few viruses and
trojans. Thank God for ASR backups......

I, on the other hand, run Win 2K with no virus protection, but I run
Zone alarm for a firewall. I am only on for small periods of time when
I do "stuff". I have yet to have an infection.

I am now setting up a wireless network, and the router has a built-in
firewall as well. I plan on tightening it down to only allowing those
ports that we use to go out, and nothing comes in. Hopefully that
helps.

Dave