Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall

[EricG]

Hi

I have a Broadband connection with Wanadoo and usually have the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall activated with none of the options checked and which seems to ensure all my ports are closed. A check using the grc.com vunerablity scan suggests my PC is fully protected.

I have recently noticed that as soon as I connect to the Internet two additonal items are added to the list of the options in the XP Internet Connection Firewall, both checked and neither able to be unchecked. They appear as msmsgs XXXXX UDP and msmsgs XXXXX TCP - the X's are numbers that change each time I reconnect. I think they relate to Microsoft Messenger Service which I always keep disabled using the GRC free tool "Shoot the Messenger".

Can anyone enlighten me as to what these two itemms are and how they appear in the Internet Connections Firewall when I connect but disappear when I disconnect? More importantly, what are they there for and should I be worried?

Thanks to anyone who can explain this mystery to me.

Eric:confused:

[Steve]

Hi Eric,

msmsgs is the tray bar icon for MSN Messenger, that is, an online chat and instant messaging client. You may or may not use that program. In either case, I would suggest that you do not put your trust in the XP firewall.

A quality firewall controls programs both FROM the internet and from your computer TO the internet. The XP firewall only controls programs accessing your computer from the internet. It does nothing to control programs connecting to the internet from your computer. Thus it is flawed. It only does half the job.

Free quality firewalls such a ZoneAlarm will do the complete job and are highly recommended.

[classicsoftware]

Free and better firewalls are:

Sygate (http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm)

Zone Alarm (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/comparison.jsp?lid=ho_za)

Kerio (http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html)

All free and all waaayyyy better then the one provided by MS

[EricG]

Hi

Thanks for the replies - I shall take your advice and look at a better firewall.

Eric

[ErnieK]

Eric
Remember to disable the XP firewall before you install another one. Two running together will cause problems.

[EricG]

Thanks Ernie

[PrntRhd]

You can run a software firewall and a hardware firewall, just don't use two software firewalls.
:)

[EricG]

Thanks for that information.