Trying New Security Approach on Laptop Windows Defender Discuss Trying New Security Approach on Laptop in the Vista Features forums; Hi Friends: I am trying a new security approach on Vista on my laptop. I am using only Defender, Windows Firewall, and Avast! Home (free). I am giving Defender a ...

[Znod]

Hi Friends:

I am trying a new security approach on Vista on my laptop. I am using only Defender, Windows Firewall, and Avast! Home (free). I am giving Defender a chance to do its job. We'll see.

For clarity, what I am not using that I usually use in addition to Avast! is Ad-Aware SE+ (with real-time monitoring), the OneCare firewall, and No Script wit Firefox. In other words, I am taking a sort of minimalist add-on approach.

[Davehc]

Hi Znod.
Are you going through a router? If so, why not try one step further. I have only used my router firwall since year plonk. I have never had any outside attacks of significance. Router Firewalls are also quite configurable if you have any reason to customise.

[crabby]

Yeah, if you have a router... use its firewall and block all incoming ports, except maybe 1 or 2 you would use personally (for torrents etc). Also never had a problem! But I always put a personal one up during LANs

crabby

[Znod]

You guys are right. I used to use only our router firewall. Maybe I turn Windows firewall off too, but then I'll end up will all those annoying something is wrong with your security messages.

[JoshW02@hotmail.co.uk]

Can't you just change the settings in security center? (Under change the way security alerts me)

[felix8406]

Josh is correct. You should be able to turn off security center alerts through the security center options. The security center can be found in the control panel.

[Znod]

Right guys. But, I never seem to get it to leave me alone. But, incidentally, I changed one thing. I could never get Windows Firewall to work properly with outgoing. Some reports say it is disabled, while others say it just is the devil to set.

So, not feeling comfortable with no outgoing protection, I uninstalled avast! so I could install OneCare beta. Then, I turned everything off about OneCare except its firewall and reinstalled avast! And, now I've turned Windows Firewall off. We'll see if I can keep it from bugging me. And, by the way, I still get Defender updates through Windows Updates.

[ProCookie]

i allways thought that you needed both firewalls on? the router firewall to block ports and the system firewall to notify you when a program is trying to unlock the ports, ahhh well maby im wrong but i allways have both on for extra security.

[crabby]

You can definately do that Ant... i just dont ned to know about any programs trying to use ports, all the ports I want to use are open!

crabby

[ProCookie]

does windows firewall use up alot of resources??? if it does then mabey i should turn it off and beef up my router firewall