I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct the
problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a balloon
in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.

Thanks,
MaryL

Mary, go back to Control Center>Security Center. Then click on Change
the way the
Security Center alerts me. Uncheck the Firewall box. Make sure it says
it's on first.
"MaryL" <stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
news:e6P3EUsMIHA.2432@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>the problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>balloon in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>
> Thanks,
> MaryL
>

Is the warning usually when you Start your computer, or just at random?
Malware status?
More info may be helpful.

"MaryL" wrote:

> I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
> "firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
> Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
> turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct the
> problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a balloon
> in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>
> Thanks,
> MaryL
>
>
>

It occurs when I start the computer, but it is *not* frequent. In fact,
several weeks will go by between occurrences, then I will suddenly get the
warning that my computer may be at risk because a firewall is not turned on.
Unfortunately, there really are no other details to provide -- it happens
infrequently, and if it is associated with anything, I don't know what it
would be. I use an anti-virus program (currently Avast!, but sometimes
AVG -- *not* running simultaneously, of course). I use both Ad-Aware SE and
Spybot Search and Destroy. I run Ad-Aware several times a week and run
Spybot every week or so.

MaryL

"Script" <Script@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:625B01D3-3FEC-4631-B47C-1B241D407C23@microsoft.com...
> Is the warning usually when you Start your computer, or just at random?
> Malware status?
> More info may be helpful.
>
> "MaryL" wrote:
>
>> I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>> "firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>> Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>> turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>> the
>> problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>> balloon
>> in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> MaryL
>>
>>
>>

Where can I find this option? I checked Security Center and did find that
setting. Also, what is the reason/effect for the change?

While checking for the setting you mentioned, I did find that there are some
exceptions that have been checked under Windows Firewall. I did not
manually check any exceptions, so these appear to have been set by other
programs, possibly during installation. Is this a problem? The listed
exceptions are these: HP Software Update Client; RealOne Player; Remote
Assistance; and SpoolerSubSystem App.

MaryL


"Rich Barry" <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:474f232e$0$4967$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Mary, go back to Control Center>Security Center. Then click on Change
> the way the
> Security Center alerts me. Uncheck the Firewall box. Make sure it says
> it's on first.
> "MaryL" <stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
> news:e6P3EUsMIHA.2432@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>>"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>>Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>>turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>>the problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>>balloon in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> MaryL
>>
>
>

One possible explanation for why you occasionally see this warning
might be Service time-out. Windows services are interdependent. A
particular Service cannot start unless a dependant service is already
running. XP will wait up to 30-seconds for service to time out. There
may be cases where the Firewall service isn't started but the Security
Center has started and can't detect the firewall so it presents the
warning message. The Windows Firewall starts via a SvcHost session
and has 2 dependency services.

I wouldn't mask out the Security Center from monitoring the firewall.


"MaryL" <stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
news:Ou40DHvMIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Where can I find this option? I checked Security Center and did find that
> setting. Also, what is the reason/effect for the change?
>
> While checking for the setting you mentioned, I did find that there are
> some exceptions that have been checked under Windows Firewall. I did not
> manually check any exceptions, so these appear to have been set by other
> programs, possibly during installation. Is this a problem? The listed
> exceptions are these: HP Software Update Client; RealOne Player; Remote
> Assistance; and SpoolerSubSystem App.
>
> MaryL
>
>
> "Rich Barry" <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:474f232e$0$4967$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> Mary, go back to Control Center>Security Center. Then click on Change
>> the way the
>> Security Center alerts me. Uncheck the Firewall box. Make sure it
>> says it's on first.
>> "MaryL" <stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
>> news:e6P3EUsMIHA.2432@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>>>"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>>>Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>>>turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>>>the problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>>>balloon in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> MaryL
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Mary, try a different firewall. Comodo is very good. It's also free.
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/


"MaryL" <stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
news:e6P3EUsMIHA.2432@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>the problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>balloon in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>
> Thanks,
> MaryL
>

MaryL wrote:
> I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
> "firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
> Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
> turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct the
> problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a balloon
> in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>
> Thanks,
> MaryL
>
>

The XP firewall is crap. I use Comodo, a free and very good firewall:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Don't turn off the Security Center's way of notifying you like was
suggested by another post as it *will* recognize Comodo. DO turn off the
Windows firewall before installing Comodo. If you don't have a router,
disconnect from the Internet before proceeding.

Alias

"Alias" <alias@aliasmail.com> wrote in message news:fioqbe$n5t$2@aioe.org...
> MaryL wrote:
>> I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>> "firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>> Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>> turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>> the problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>> balloon in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> MaryL
>
> The XP firewall is crap. I use Comodo, a free and very good firewall:
>
> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
>
> Don't turn off the Security Center's way of notifying you like was
> suggested by another post as it *will* recognize Comodo. DO turn off the
> Windows firewall before installing Comodo. If you don't have a router,
> disconnect from the Internet before proceeding.
>
> Alias

Thanks. Comodo was also recommended by Rich Barry. I read a couple of
reviews, and it sounds good. I would like to try it, and you just answered
one question I wondered about -- that is, to turn off Windows firewall
first. I knew not to run two anti-virus programs simultaneously and
suspected that would also be true of firewalls but was not sure. I am
connected via cable, and I have a Linksys Wirelesss-G broadband router.

MaryL

Thanks. I read a couple of reviews, and Comodo sounds good. I'm going to
try it.

MaryL

"Rich Barry" <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:474f7153$0$2300$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Mary, try a different firewall. Comodo is very good. It's also free.
> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
>
>
> "MaryL" <stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message
> news:e6P3EUsMIHA.2432@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>>"firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>>Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>>turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>>the problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>>balloon in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> MaryL
>>
>
>

MaryL wrote:
> "Alias" <alias@aliasmail.com> wrote in message news:fioqbe$n5t$2@aioe.org...
>> MaryL wrote:
>>> I occasionally get a warning that my computer "may be at risk" because
>>> "firewall is not turned on." However, I gave gone to Windows Security
>>> Center in Control Panel each time -- and the firewall *has* already been
>>> turned on each time. What is causing this, and what can I do to correct
>>> the problem? I am using Win XP-Home Edition. The warning appears as a
>>> balloon in the task bar at the bottom of the desktop.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> MaryL
>> The XP firewall is crap. I use Comodo, a free and very good firewall:
>>
>> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
>>
>> Don't turn off the Security Center's way of notifying you like was
>> suggested by another post as it *will* recognize Comodo. DO turn off the
>> Windows firewall before installing Comodo. If you don't have a router,
>> disconnect from the Internet before proceeding.
>>
>> Alias
>
> Thanks. Comodo was also recommended by Rich Barry. I read a couple of
> reviews, and it sounds good. I would like to try it, and you just answered
> one question I wondered about -- that is, to turn off Windows firewall
> first. I knew not to run two anti-virus programs simultaneously and
> suspected that would also be true of firewalls but was not sure. I am
> connected via cable, and I have a Linksys Wirelesss-G broadband router.
>
> MaryL
>
>

Then you're set to install it. It asks permission for apps a lot at
first but once it learns what you want to allow and what you don't want
to allow, it calms down.

Alias

On Nov 29, 5:17 pm, "MaryL" <stanco...******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER>
wrote:
> It occurs when I start the computer, but it is *not* frequent. In fact,
> several weeks will go by between occurrences, then I will suddenly get the
> warning that my computer may be at risk because a firewall is not turned on.
> Unfortunately, there really are no other details to provide -- it happens
> infrequently, and if it is associated with anything, I don't know what it
> would be. I use an anti-virus program (currently Avast!, but sometimes
> AVG -- *not* running simultaneously, of course). I use both Ad-Aware SE and
> Spybot Search and Destroy. I run Ad-Aware several times a week and run
> Spybot every week or so.
>

Hello Mary,
I don't pretend to be a computer expert by any means but I suggest
using Comodo for your firewall, it's free:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

AVG is an excellent antivirus and Spybot and Ad-Aware are both
excellent as malware removers.


Robert

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:11:52 -0600, "MaryL"
<stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:

>Thanks. I read a couple of reviews, and Comodo sounds good. I'm going to
>try it.
>
>MaryL
>
>"Rich Barry" <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
>news:474f7153$0$2300$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> Mary, try a different firewall. Comodo is very good. It's also free.
>> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Commodo v3 just came out, most like it but the jury is not in yet. The
first update came out within hours. Some users have gone back to v2.4
until they get some fixes out. You could follow the thread here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r194...ro-30-Released

BoB

BoB wrote:
> On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:11:52 -0600, "MaryL"
> <stancole1******.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:
>
>> Thanks. I read a couple of reviews, and Comodo sounds good. I'm going to
>> try it.
>>
>> MaryL
>>
>> "Rich Barry" <rbarry@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
>> news:474f7153$0$2300$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> Mary, try a different firewall. Comodo is very good. It's also free.
>>> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
>
> Commodo v3 just came out, most like it but the jury is not in yet. The
> first update came out within hours. Some users have gone back to v2.4
> until they get some fixes out. You could follow the thread here:
>
> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r194...ro-30-Released
>
> BoB
>

I'm using it and haven't had any problems.

Alias