Windows XP - Private Folder question

[davereid]

Hi ixion, I'm not sure a firewall would help you against web beacons. This is because your browser will simply fetch all the images on a web page automatically. The fact that one of the images is tiny and from a different server doesnt matter to the browser, and its already got permission to access the internet so the firewall wont help. May a geek on the site can help.

[pervert]

A simple tracking cookie is hardly a huge threat though.

[Ixion]

Hi ixion, I'm not sure a firewall would help you against web beacons. This is because your browser will simply fetch all the images on a web page automatically. The fact that one of the images is tiny and from a different server doesnt matter to the browser, and its already got permission to access the internet so the firewall wont help. May a geek on the site can help.

It won't if the firewall is a simple one like zonealarm that just works on an access-no access basis. But more sophisticated ones (mines actually a Cisco router) have Access Controll Lists into which you can enter specfic "banned" IP addresses. And logs which you can review to see such hidden activity. Review log, why is data being pulled from that address - ACL rule to block the address. I have the common ad sites blocked, more because I don't want to spend time downloading advertising banners than any privacy reasons.

[SPman]

It won't if the firewall is a simple one like zonealarm that just works on an access-no access basis. But more sophisticated ones (mines actually a Cisco router) have Access Controll Lists into which you can enter specfic "banned" IP addresses. And logs which you can review to see such hidden activity. Review log, why is data being pulled from that address - ACL rule to block the address. I have the common ad sites blocked, more because I don't want to spend time downloading advertising banners than any privacy reasons.

Zone alarm pro gives a few more of the same sort of tweaks as that.
ZA free is still a lot better than nothin.

[scracha]

true, my desktop is pro, machine the hdd failed in was home

Only knew this as I had the same prob with a customer PC a couple of months back so it was still fresh in my mind. Was sat scratching my head for a while going "where's the bloody security tab?".

Google is your friend.

[scracha]

Zone alarm pro gives a few more of the same sort of tweaks as that.
ZA free is still a lot better than nothin.

ZA is a PITA and I'd only recommend for win98/ME. Kerio is a better bet.

As for adverts, run Firefox with the Adblock Plus plugin. Another useful tool is McAfee site adviser.


http://www.siteadvisor.com/
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio-Download.cfm
http://www.spybot.com/
http://www.getfirefox.com/

All of the above are free (some just for home/non-commercial use) and pretty idiot proof.

Most folks seem to get infected simply because they're not running an up-to-date anti-virus or let their kids install crappy P2P software and don't set it up properly to scan downloads.

[wendigo]

Dunno how useful this would be, but you can set firefox up to block loading of images (Tools -> Options ->Content -> load images automatically/exception). Plug in URI you want to block (e.g. IMRWORLDWIDE.COM ), and hit the block button. Don't know how practical this is, but it might work. Maybe a security guru could confirm?

[scracha]

Dunno how useful this would be, but you can set firefox up to block loading of images (Tools -> Options ->Content -> load images automatically/exception). Plug in URI you want to block (e.g. IMRWORLDWIDE.COM ), and hit the block button. Don't know how practical this is, but it might work. Maybe a security guru could confirm?

Yeah but you have to manually do it for every URL. Adblock does pretty much the same job but picks them up from a database. No more annoying flash adverts.

[wendigo]

Yeah but you have to manually do it for every URL.

True, however I find that in general I only use a small number of websites (~10) so if I was really that worried, doing the manual thing wouldn't be that tiresome.

[Xtat1k]

i recently had those annoying winantiviruspro 2006 pop ups, i tried heaps in the end i just nuked the pc and started again. prob solved....

p.s - nortons gay

[Colapop]

To me, that popup looks to be related to the 'Messenger' service from the services control panel. Turn it off, you don't need that one because that service is intended for computers who are company networked.

What's happening is that instead of sending spam emails, these companies are targeting random IP addresses with Messenger pop up messages. Turn the service off and it stops. Are you running a firewall because that should stop them entering in the first place.

My 2c.

Yeah ahh I'll need one of those;
"This is exactly how you do it type instructions - first you do this, then you do this, then you...."
It's not infected anymore, just those f*cken pop-ups....

[0arbreaka]

try the caveman technique, its always worked for me....

[phaedrus]

Why not email your bank and ask them why they need to spy on you ?

i asked them
"hi, i am curious why you feel the need to watch me with imrworldwide.com's Red Sheriff"
they answered

Thank you for your SecureMail about ANZ Internet Banking.

ANZ uses Red Sheriff for generating statistics on the usage of the web pages at www.anz.com and www.anz.co.nz. This is legitimate and assists us to strive to improve our Internet Banking System and home pages.


If you have any further queries please contact the ANZ Internet Banking Team via SecureMail. The Internet Banking Team will provide support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

needless to say i have made immrworldwide.com and subdomains "unavailable" to my computer