Ping: Volker Birk & Possibly Other Regs!

Yes. As a matter of fact, you don't need a firewall for Windows 98, because it's very easy to unbind any network service from your external interface. Just right-click on it, chose Properties, and remove anyhing with the exception of "TCP/IP".

Yours, VB.

Him being sincere has nothing to do with his message being right or wrong. I also think he's sincere in his messages, think that he actually believes what he's typing, but he's wrong in his assessment of Windows Firewall for XP.

There comes a time when you can be overwhelmed by statements like his and just start assuming that they are correct, but, if you would take the time to actually put them to the test in the real world, not some artificial setting that you think mimics the real world, then you might just see that the person is right in a LAB setting, but wrong in a real world setting.

That type of problem crops up all the time, you know, like when a vendor tests all the methods/threats they can think of, releases the product, and then some kid comes along as does xyz and breaks it in 10 seconds.

His next reply to you is mostly correct, you can just unbind the services in 98, but you should be sitting behind a NAT Router of some type, because if you make a mistake or they find another exploit, you won't be safe, you need something more than just the assurances that your computer is safe.

Win98SE isn't in the Microsoft software life cycle today. That's the bigger problem. No, Win98SE doesn't need a host based firewall. Steve Gibson (I know, grc sucks, but not in this particular topic) has a good description to cut network bindings (for File Sharing) from Dial Up Connections:

no help to me! ;-)

On Windows 98 OS with no firewall, does unbinding everything but "TCP/IP" prevent malware from "phoneing home"?? -- Malware that has gotten in the machine due to the users lack of security practices. Thank you, Csey

If the machine can reach the internet by using the web browser (a simple test method) so can anything else.

No, and neither a firewall does.

The bad thing with Win98 is that you're always root, so a compromised system always needs to be flattened and rebuilt. With WinNT and restricted user rights flattening the user's account/profile is sufficient.

No. Neither does a personal firewall, because it can be disabled most easily. Not installing malware is the only thing that helps against malware phoning home. Once you got malware installed your system is toast, especially if the system is Windows 9x. Lather, rinse, repeat.

cu

Wrong. The support period has been extended.

cu

Does it mean that the experimental multi monitor support with we replaced by a stable release?

No. It just means that if somebody discovered a critical bug in it, there's a non-zero chance it will get fixed ;)

cu

No. And I can see nothing else, which can achive this goal up to now for sure.

Yours, VB.