Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
July 30, 2006
Volume 2, Number 07 — Sunday, July 30, 2006
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
7. Kerio Firewall Tips
A reader wrote me this week about a problem she was having with the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall (which I recommend). She said:
Terry the one problem I am having with this firewall is that is blocks absolutely everything. E.G. I am trying to access Cingular's rate plans and phones on the web so I won't have to go talk to one of their cyborgs who understand nothing. Cingulars ads for phones and plans are blocked. How do I set the firewall to let some of these desired ads in?
Kerio Tip - AD-BLOCKING
Web pages can be blocked in several ways. It sounded like her problem was the ad-blocking function in Kerio. I have all the ad-blocking TURNED OFF.
To check your settings in the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall, double-click on the blue Kerio firewall icon in the status bar. Pick "Web" in the left tab and "Ad blocking" in the top tab.
I have ALL of these turned off -- which I recommend in my review. I also have all the Privacy options turned off, although you might want to use the "private information" option.
With the ad-blocking turned off, I didn't have any problems with the Cingular pages that were causing her problems.
If you're using the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall, you might want to reread my review for some more tips. I've got screen shots of all my settings in the review.
Another Kerio Tip - UPDATING TO CURRENT VERSION
Sunbelt Software bought the Kerio firewall from a company in the Czech Republic late last year. Until recently, the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall update service was being provided by the former company, who still services the non-English versions of the program.
Unfortunately, the server to be checked for updates is coded in the program -- so your version may still be checking the Czech site and not the Sunbelt site for updates. And, there is a new version!
The current version of the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall is 4.3.246.0. You can check this by right-clicking on the blue shield in the Windows Status Bar and selecting About.
If you don't have the current version, you can update your easily.
You will have to fill in your name and email address again to complete the registration of the new version. I suggest using the same name and email address as you did before. You can check your registration info by opening the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall, clicking the Overview and License tabs and clicking on the "Modify data" button in the "Registered to" section.
Then, go to the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall page and download the "trial." It will install over your registered version perfectly -- mine did.
Sunbelt also offers excellent tech support by email and toll-free phone. I understand that the Czech company's servers will soon point to Sunbelt's, but, this way, you can get your update now.
Another Kerio Tip - UNKNOWN OUTBOUND PROGRAMS
The Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall allows you to specify the level of blocking — and of interrruption — you want to have.
If you always want to know and approve a new program (or a new version of a program) when it tries to access the Internet, change your settings this way.
- Check the Network Security / Applications tab in Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall.
- The last entry is "Any other application" -- it's probably set to a green checkmark. Click on the checkmark twice to change ti to a yellow question mark.
- The Advanced install sets this to Ask. The Simple install sets it to OK (the simple install says that you won't be bothered by any questions).
When I just tested, LeakTest 1.2 (just downloaded it) was stopped by Kerio with "All other programs" set to "Ask"
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8. Reinstalling Windows XP
This week, subscriber Peter Lieurance wrote to say:
Dear Terry,
I’m new to your newsletter and it’s sensational.
I’m about to wipe my hard drive clean and reinstall XP and all my software. I want to avoid backing up and reinstalling any bad stuff. What guidance on all of this would you have.
I am using Sunbelt Keri Personal Firewall, AVG Professional, Webroot Spysweeper, and Registry Mechanic. I also have Backup My PC 6.0.
Should I switch to your recommended security software or am I in pretty good shape until the licenses run out.
One thing I wish firewalls had is a way (link?) to lookup who the remote site of an incoming IP is,
Thanks, Peter. I'm glad you like it. Tell Your Friends!
Before you back up, do a full scan with AVG professional. Then, do an overnight scan with Trend Micro's Housecall. Then a full scan with Spysweeper.
Since you're planning to reinstall WinXP and software, that should help. But, I suggest doing it in this order on the install:
- Disconnect from the Internet and your home network
- Install Windows XP
- install Kerio
- install AVG Professional
- connect to Internet and do MICROSOFT Update (WinXP will default to Windows Updates, so be sure to manually pick Windows Updates from the Start/All Programs -- and then, once it opens, pick Microsoft Update on the right-hand side of the web page
- AVG will probably update at the same time
- reboot (probably mandatory)
- install Spysweeper and let it update
- proceed to install MS Office or anything else you want.
- if you install MS Office, reboot, then do Microsoft Updates again to get all of those for Office
- the install any other software
Regarding your current security software, I'd stay with what you've got until they expire (of course, Kerio is my recommendation!). I'm not familiar with Backup My PC and haven't used Registry Mechanic so I can't really comment on them.
To find out about IP addresses, you can use a free tool called Sam Spade for Windows. You can download it from http://www.samspade.org
If you're using Cable or DSL, then I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you get a cable/dsl router, even if you only are going to connect one computer. This gives you a layer of protection for Windows itself — outsiders can not initiate contact with your computer; they can only respond to your computer.
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Volume 2, Number 07 — Sunday, July 30, 2006
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Copyright © 2006 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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