has anyone actually had problems with it?

 

i mean, its supposed to solve a lot of problems, whats the fuss?

 

what can it muck up?

It stops a lot of multiplayer games from getting on the internet, as well as stopping a few from working entirely.

why does it stop them?

 

what does it do?

It tightens the "rules" on how they are supposed to access the internet. If they access it differently, it thinks that they are spyware or a virus, and shouldn't be allowed to get online.

That can all probably be traced back to the "improved" windows firewall, and therefore solved by turning it off and using your trusted, already chosen and installed alternative that was there anyway.

 

"Thanks Microsoft".

Not trusted, the stupid thing keeps forgetting my settings...

ARGH!

Uh oh... it told me I should back up my system before installing. I don't want to have to do that.

back up your entire HDD? before installing SP2?

Yes.

Blasted thing.

That can all probably be traced back to the "improved" windows firewall' date=' and therefore solved by turning it off and using your trusted, already chosen and installed alternative that was there anyway.

 

"Thanks Microsoft".[/quote']

 

so then, what is the point in the microsoft firewall, why did they make it? they must have a reason for spending money incorporating one into windows, does it do any good?

 

thats microsoft for you

So they can say "honestly, our bag-of-holes software is (more) secure now".

Yes.

Blasted thing.

 

what, so you downloaded SP2, and you clicked to instal, and it told you to back up your whole computer?

 

 

if thats all yes's then...

Yes. So I didn't install it.

So they can say "honestly, our bag-of-holes software is (more) secure now".

 

ok, so thats a firewall that i can say goodbye to.

 

to you to! [im talking to the firewall, not you!]

 

so it doesnt have any add-ons, like extra security for IE for something, which a normal firewall dont have?

(just checking)

Yes. So I didn't install it.

 

SP2 tells you to back up your whole system, sounds like they're expecting trobule, is there any risks once the firewall is turned off?

It sounds to me like it does a lot of it even with their firewall off, after reading several online reviews and such.

um, can you summarize the main points of the reviews you've read,

 

[mainly coz i cant be bothered to find and read them! thxn in advance]

is there any risks once the firewall is turned off?

let me think ... Microsoft made it.............There is no risk

that was just a pointless post!

90% of people run a microsoft OS, be serious,

 

is there something which the microsoft firewall does, which a normal one might not, such as extra security emphasised on the windows OS or something?

 

what risks is there with SP2 which arent counteracted by disabling the firewall?

 

[serious answers, not like #43 ]

You want a serious answer:

Yes, there is a risk and even microsoft doesn't know them all.

(So they would like you to test it)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/25/xpsp2_security_crater/

 

Typical.

HA! Stupid Microsoft.

SP2 was basically a rush-job, and now they're going to start paying the price for it.

 

How amusing.

SP2 was basically a rush-job' date=' and now they're going to start paying the price for it.

 

How amusing.[/quote']

 

yes, thats what i thought, so should we instal it or not, we need the security patches, but it opens up more

 

 

microsoft, do something right, you run our computers [most of our...]

 

whats more likely to be attacked, the new or the old? well pressumably the new, but at the same time...

 

what exactly does this fix? or is supposed to fix?

 

i mean, there was the firewall, but it makes it over-reactive, and as agreed earlier in this thread, it is wise to shut it down.

it stop illegal version, which doesnt effect me, infact it only stops the 20 most common illegal versions.

what else does it do?