Once upon a time, out on MARS.

While reading the mail, wispering this:

 CM> ie
 HC> Coombe who is interested in hearing from anybody on the Virus Echo who
KW> may
 HC> have information on virus's that can affect a Windows XP OS Endowed
KW> Laptop
 CM> and
 HC> how i may avoid it, prefferably without going into the Internet,

 CM> Best way, is to buy a copy of one of the leading brands of
 CM> Anti-virus software, such as Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro's
 CM> PC-Cillin, or one of the free downloads such as the german AVP
 CM> (Anti-Virus Personal), keep them updated.

KW> good advice in general...

KW> but:

 CM> Buy or download an
 CM> effective Firewall program, such as Black Ice Defender, or Zone
 CM> Alarm (free) Pro (commercial) as the built-in firewall included
 CM> with XP is almost as useless as water.

KW> his preference is to not go on the internet... as such, what good will a
KW> firewall do him? a firewall is a device/program that controls the
KW> passage of traffic across network interfaces - if he doesn't connect to
KW> an untrusted network like the internet it seems like it would be a waste
KW> to use...

KW> unless . . . he meant he'd prefer a means of protecting himself *before*
KW> going on the internet (seeing as how there are worms that can affect a
KW> machine within *seconds* of being connected)...

This is the meaning that I took his query to be oriented towards.
Protected BEFORE connecting. What he could do, from a "Protected"
computer, would be to download the free ones, to install before
connecting, and then , if desired, grab the more powerful
commercial versions or the nicer to have, add-ons to flesh out
his protection. I wouldn't connect an XP based machine without
first installing SP1 (purchased from MS, via phone call...) and
using at LEAST the built-in firewall until he can replace it
with a more powerful version from someone else, as suggested in
the above prior response.

KW> paper that addresses just this issue - unfortunately it's on the
KW> internet (the irony) and it's a pdf...
KW> http://www.cablemodemhelp.com/xpsurvivalguide.pdf ... i'll see if i
KW> can't get an ascii transcription of it to post...

You are right, so much info is on the WEB, but can be SO
dangerous to try to get to, without being protected, first..


Chris Martin, The MARS Station BBS

 * WCE 2.1G1/2419 * ... For sale: Hourglass for timing Windows.

--- ViaMAIL!/WC v1.60d