[at-l] gmail

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

At 12:16 PM 12/15/2005 -0500, Walt Daniels wrote:
>
> >
> > I used to use Zone Alarm but it had a conflict with my ISP.
> > With ZA I frequently couldn't get on-line at all. Between all
> > the variations in software code and hardware it is sometimes
> > tough to find something that works well with everything and
> > just when you think you've found it, you upgrade something
> > and the magic is gone again. :-P
> >
>I don't really believe in the safety of any of the software firewalls and
>their ability to really protect. I use the "hardware" firewall in my router.
>Hardware is in quotes because it is really software running on a standalone
>computer. The difference is that that hardware really has no access to my
>machines behind it and has no important contents worth protecting on itself.
>I run gmail on my machine through that firewall with no problems. I have
>never had it interfere with anything I try to do. I did have to open a port
>so that I can use VNC to get to my home machine from outside my home.
>
>The latest rage for the virus writers is to exploit holes in anti-virus
>software and most likely soon in firewalls. Cisco routers have been attacked
>heavily - not resulting in compromises of machines but thoroughly messing up
>connectivity.

My son the software programmer has recommended that I get a hardware 
firewall but it will ahve to wait until I get a tax return or get lucky 
selling some photos. It does appear to be the best solution.