Windows Firewall

[Kathy Ellen]

Hi,



I got a message from Windows telling me that my laptop computer has been hacked and that my Windows Firewall is turned off. I don't know why that happened



I couldn't turn my Firewall on...got this message....



"Windows Firewall is not using recommended settings to protect your computer...Associated service is not running."



Anyone know how to turn my Firewall on?



I checked Norton's history....



It said...Medium severity due to unauthorized access...blocked (open process token)



Do you think it's safe to turn on my laptop and what should I do about Firewall?



Many thanks for any help.

[CARLA]

Turn your "Window Firewall OFF" it in your control panel. You don't need it turned on at all your Norton will protect you.



If your getting a message like this you probably have a trojan run MALWAREBYTES quick scan to get rid of it. Here is the link http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-A ... tag=button

If you would like me to logon to your machine to get rid of the demon PM me I will send you a link to a remote logon service I use to fix machines remotely.

[spot]

If your laptop has all the Microsoft security patches installed (that's the usual state unless you've changed the defaults) then you have little to worry about though it would be a good thing to get it rectified.

Which are you using on your laptop - Windows 7, Vista, or XP?

If you go to Start / Control Panel / Security settings or Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Security settings (depending on which operating system you have), what does it say about the firewall? If it's off, what happens if you try turning it on?

Do you have one of the Norton firewalls running instead of the native Windows firewall?

eta: soz Carla, didn't see you. Carry on.

[Kathy Ellen]

Oh, thank you both Carla and Spot so much for helping me. It's so nice to know that you're there with great advice.





:wah: You both gave me the courage to turn my computer on and all looks ok.



Norton had sent me a message as I stated in the above post...Norton said that no action required as they blocked it...





I just read what an 'open process token' was on the net...



'This is a Norton Product Tamper Protection entry. Norton Product Tamper Protection prevents outside agents from interfering with Norton's operations by blocking or limiting the access that other programs have to Norton files and processes. Many legitimate programs will often appear repeatedly in these logs and this is perfectly normal and harmless. As long as the actor is a program that you recognize as belonging on your PC, there is nothing to worry about.'





So, Norton took care of it:-6 I panicked because I've never been hacked before. I kept getting that message about 'Firewall being turned off' from Windows and thought my laptop was a goner:(



What should I do if I get that message again from Windows? Should I just leave my laptop on? I do allow for Norton to upgrade all of their updates and run a daily scan at noon. Can you have Norton and Malwarebytes run at the same time? Should I download Malwarebytes also?



Thank you so much Carla. That is just so nice of you to offer your services. You are always the best, and I appreciate all of your help. I think it's ok now.



Spot, I have Norton on my laptop and desktop and have never been hacked...had a trojan or 2 but they were dealt with quickly.



I have XP on my desktop and Vista on my laptop.



Thank you both so much. I owe you a lovely dinner and a few mojitos...

[CARLA]

Yes you can have both. If you Norton has a firewall it may block it to start but you can allow it. It is a free software package designed specifically to catch trojans, malware and general spam. I use both daily.





[QUOTE]

What should I do if I get that message again from Windows? Should I just leave my laptop on? I do allow for Norton to upgrade all of their updates and run a daily scan at noon. Can you have Norton and Malwarebytes run at the same time? Should I download Malwarebytes also?


[/QUOTE]

[Kathy Ellen]

CARLA;1292107 wrote: Yes you can have both. If you Norton has a firewall it may block it to start but you can allow it. It is a free software package designed specifically to catch trojans, malware and general spam. I use both daily.


Thanks for the advice Carla. I will download it now:-6

[Kathy Ellen]

I downloaded the malwarebyte this morning Carla, and it found 162 issues from malware. I feel safer now with malwarebyte and norton running scans together.

[CARLA]

Good did you delete all of them? It asks if you want to see the results you say yes, then it ask you what you want to do with them, select all and delete them.



Malware of any kinds does several things over time that go unnoticed until its to late.



1. They clog up your machine and start to slow it down little by little.

2. Software installs itself on you PC claiming to be the end all be all for virus, or any kind of infection, when in fact it is a virus.

3. Once it installs itself you are caught between a rock and a hard place as it hijacks you desktop, control panel, browsers just about everything

leaving them usless until you can run Malwarebytes.



It is a simple FREE software that at least gives you the upper hand to remove some of these awful programs that are a blythe on your machine. I use it in conjunction with a FREE antivirus program together they can keep you clean. Just run the updates on the software before you do a qucik scan and you should be OK.

[Ahso!]

OR you could stop all this if you cease using IE.

[Kathy Ellen]

What's IE?

[Ahso!]

Internet Explorer. Switch to Firefox and your problems are solved.

[CARLA]

True or update to IE8 which is great and stops the malware and trojans in their tracks. Firefox is good and recommend it as well.



IE is Internet Explorer your browser there are 3 version in use now IE6, IE7, and the newest IE8 which in my humble opinion is the best.

[Ahso!]

It will have issues too. It may be a nice looking browser but its only a matter of time before its compromised, if it hasn't been already, which it probably has. there are too many flaws in Microsoft software. Today everyone else is pulling far ahead of them.

Remember every time you need to install a new program on your computer you are using its resources to run them and that slows up the system.

[CARLA]

True but for the average daily home user Microsoft is what get when they buy their systems. Some vendors are just now offering other operating systems but that doesn't work for many as they have no experience with these Operating Systems. Just not practical or cost effective for the everyday PC user.



Sure they can buy a MAC if they have tons of money to spend on a Laptop or Desktop most don't. As great as Apple Computers are they aren't good with business application such as word, excel. power point, publisher their "Office" package can and doesn't hold a candle to Microsoft Office. I'm constantly helping people with their Apple Excel issues, Power Point, and Access problems which they can't do on a Apple with the ease that Microsoft applications handle them. I do a lot of work with Physician's who want Power Point presentations to take to conferences some have MACS and constantly run into issues when they try and send their presentations to others, or incorporate movies, pictures, pdf's or sound doesn't work that simple.

Example my neice goes to Stanford all her fellow students that have MAC'S come to her to handle their EXCEL application that their professors give them to do, Apple EXCEL can't run the formulas or do the calculations required.

You may not like it but for most of the world MICROSOFT is the name of the game.

[Ahso!]

Not for that much longer really. But I was simply offering some advice. I think its always better to go with the better software rather than constantly adding layer upon layer of additional software in order to make the original software work like its meant to.

My systems work fine so thats all I concern myself with quite honestly.