sygate and AVG

[ccrn]

OK,

Ive had it with Norton and removed all of their software from my PC.

I downloaded Sygate and AVG today.

The problem I am having is the firewall did not give me a prompt to set rules (whick I dont know much about anyway) or offer me an option for a default rule set.

So now anytime I try to do anything it blocks all outgoing processes(?) and forces me to manualy allow them to connect.
I dont really mind this but I guess it will be time consuming if not a lengthy learning process to determine what is safe to allow or not. Plus my family uses this particular PC and they are even less literate than I.

Also when I try to download the most current updates for AVG I keep getting a message that states " could not automaticly connect to..." then my update stops in its tracks.

Should I disable the firewall so I can update?

Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks...

BTW
Today when I did all of this I noticed my "Documents" icon on desktop was renamed "Z". And it took several tries for IE to log on. AVG found nothing tho.....:confused:

[rapidarp]

That's why I stopped using Norton Firewall. 1. It conflicted with a lot of software on my machine, 2. It asked me if I wanted to allow access to EVERY program that I opened, etc. I don't use the firewall anymore. I still use Norton AntiVirus because I've never had any problems with it. As of right now, i'm going commando with no firewall. If I find a decent one that doesn't annoy the hell out of me with a flashing system tray icon *cough* BlackIce Defender *cough*.

[eldon]

The updates to your avg arent firewall related it a very busy server at grisoft.You can download them manualy by going to their site clicking on updates picking your version and downloading the update to your avg folder,c>program files>grisoft>avg>updates and after you download it just run avg like you were doing a scan and it will automaticaly install the updates.

[glc]

I haven't used Sygate, but Zone Alarm doesn't have a ruleset per se - it asks permission for applications to access the internet, and you simply verify it's legit, check the box to remember, and allow it, it won't ask again unless the particular app *changes* somehow - which is suspicious behavior. You can also tell it to block silently so the alert doesn't bug you constantly.

[ccrn]

ok I have looked at the firewall more closely and its the same, it asks permission and you allow it or not, and have the option to check the box to remember.

This is a little distressing to me as I am not sure yet which applications to allow or not. I am aware that quite a few can be shut off so they dont run in the background which I need to find out about and how to do.

examples:

distributed COM services

Internet Explorer

MS QMgr

SSDP Service in Windows

Win32 Kernel core component

Windows Explorer

All of these are running apparently and I am not sure which ones to disallow.

Sheesh, there is so much to know its making my brain hurt-

ccrn

[ccrn]

...anyone?

[catfishjoe_1]

Only questionable entry I can see is the MS qmgr. That is for msn messenger I think.

If you click on a link or app and your firewall alert comes up it is usually legit.
If the alert pops up for no apparent reason, something is phoning home. Investigate. If legit you can set your firewall to remember your response. A V updates will trigger alerts until you set it to remember your answer to connect.

not familiar with sygate, the above is how zonealarm works.
cat

[ccrn]

sygate works the some way, unlike norton which has default and costum rule stets the user can choose-

thanks BTW

[morriswindgate]

With Sygate, right click on the firewall icon in the system tray, then select applications. Here you can see all the stuff the firewall is blocking. allowing, or asking. Then go to the box on the left side and click in the box. Each click will fill the box with Allow, Ask, or block.
The biggest mistake people make when installing Sygate is not checking the remember my preference box that pops up with the warning box. Also when you first install it you will need to allow several Windows Services to communicate.
The one thing that is important to remember with a firewall is that if you click, say, on Internet Explorer and then a firewall box comes up, you need to allow this as it is something you want.
The AVG free auto update site has been really hard to connect to for a couple of weeks now. I suspect that they are working on their system to add capacity.