- Joined
- Apr 19, 2007
- Messages
- 8,706
- Reaction score
- 7,170
- Points
- 393
- Location
- USA
- Printer Model
- Canon MB5120, Pencil
Grandad35:
You have explained why I do not care for WinXP firewall or any firewall that does not alert to an app attempting to make an outside connection.
Some people, including either Steve Gibson or someone interviewed by him on http://www.grc.com/intro.htm, think that outgoing firewall protection is not that important. Yours is a case of precisely why it IS important. Some may argue that better vigilance and wiser choices of what to click on or run are sufficient. I disagree. No one is impervious to everything.
The warnings by the IT department and WinZip are generic, just like many advertisements are geared for someone with an 8th grade education. Keeping directions aimed at the lowest common denominator helps improve the message is understood and followed.
The listing I provided will keep you out of trouble concerning graphics files. I respect your paranoia. What a mess!
Just curious, how were you infected in the first place?
About the links Token posted - the websites are all kosher and the JPG files are legit. Maybe my internet security software is automatically blocking out malicious or malisious-looking popups or cookies, but I see nothing wrong about anything that Token linked to. If anything were safe it would be Rapidshare (unless Token linked to a faux site or it was hijacked by external forces - none of which occurred).
For PC's, I highly recommend a simple, very effective, and free HOSTS-based blocker to filter out known crap. I used the very automated and flexible B.I.S.S. Hosts Manager at http://blocklistpro.com/biss/downloads.html. This is an adjunct application in addition to a quality Firewall and Anti-viral/Anti-Spyware apps.
You have explained why I do not care for WinXP firewall or any firewall that does not alert to an app attempting to make an outside connection.
Some people, including either Steve Gibson or someone interviewed by him on http://www.grc.com/intro.htm, think that outgoing firewall protection is not that important. Yours is a case of precisely why it IS important. Some may argue that better vigilance and wiser choices of what to click on or run are sufficient. I disagree. No one is impervious to everything.
The warnings by the IT department and WinZip are generic, just like many advertisements are geared for someone with an 8th grade education. Keeping directions aimed at the lowest common denominator helps improve the message is understood and followed.
The listing I provided will keep you out of trouble concerning graphics files. I respect your paranoia. What a mess!
Just curious, how were you infected in the first place?
About the links Token posted - the websites are all kosher and the JPG files are legit. Maybe my internet security software is automatically blocking out malicious or malisious-looking popups or cookies, but I see nothing wrong about anything that Token linked to. If anything were safe it would be Rapidshare (unless Token linked to a faux site or it was hijacked by external forces - none of which occurred).
For PC's, I highly recommend a simple, very effective, and free HOSTS-based blocker to filter out known crap. I used the very automated and flexible B.I.S.S. Hosts Manager at http://blocklistpro.com/biss/downloads.html. This is an adjunct application in addition to a quality Firewall and Anti-viral/Anti-Spyware apps.