I am brand new to Comodo Firewall Pro, having just installed it last night along with Avast Anti-Virus, after having used an Internet Security Suite from a competitor for the past year.
I had heard nothing but raves about this product so here I am.
The install seems to have gone through without a hitch.
I just want to know if there is an easy way to determine now that I am fully protected from hackers and that I am invisible to others surfing the web.
I am currently running WinXP Home, SP#3, with IE7 and everything is fully patched and updated.
Do I have to let Comodo know my IP address, DNS servers, DHCP Server and my Internet provider so they can be put into my trusted zone similar to my previous firewall.
In short, since this is my only computer and nothing else, do I have to do anything on my own to secure my security or has Comodo already done that?
Do you have to do anything given that you only use one PC with CFP? No (assuming you selected the default settings). Just sit back and relax. The only time you have to fiddle around with the network rules is if you use special applications that require incoming connections like p2p etc.
make 2 consecutive posts and you’ll get it ;D. The background colour alternates.
There are of course exceptions to the relaxation - when installing programs, CFP will alert you - just pick installation mode. You’ll be reminded to switch back to the previous mode periodically.
You can also check out out CIS, which reduces alerts by default (by that’s another story). It’s in hot development right now, so it’ll only improve.
If I recall correctly, the default modes are:
Firewall = Safe Mode
Defense+ = Clean PC Mode
[b]Safe Mode[/b]: While monitoring critical system activity, the firewall will automatically learn the activity of executables and applications certified as 'Safe' by Comodo. It will also automatically create 'Allow' rules these activities. For non-certified, unknown, applications, you will receive an alert whenever that application attempts to run. Should you choose, you can add that new application to the safe list by choosing 'Treat this application as a Trusted Application' at the alert. This will instruct the firewall not to generate an alert the next time it runs. If your machine is not new or known to be free of malware and other threats as in 'Clean PC Mode' then Safe Mode' is recommended setting for most users - combining the highest levels of security with an easy-to-manage number of Defense+ alerts.
Clean PC Mode: From the time you set the slider to ‘Clean PC Mode’, Defense+ will learn the activities of the applications currently installed on the computer while all new executables introduced to the system are monitored and controlled. This patent-pending mode of operation is the recommended option on a new computer or one that the user knows to be clean of malware and other threats. From this point onwards Defense+ will alert the user whenever a new, unrecognized application is being installed. In this mode, the files in ‘My Pending Files’ are excluded from being considered as clean and are monitored and controlled.
[b]If I recall correctly, the default modes are:
Firewall = Safe Mode
Defense+ = Clean PC Mode[/b]
I recall seeing that somewhere else in the forum too.
For now I think I am going to keep both the Firewall and Defense + settings on ‘Safe Mode’.
Because even though all my other spyware and malware programs (Windows Defender, SuperAntiSpyware, Trojan Hunter, a-squared, Malware Bytes Anti-Malware, Spybot Search and Destroy and Spyware Blaster) say I am bug free and Avast anti-virus gives me a clean bill of health, I want to understand the workings of the 'Clean PC Mode a little more before I turn to that for Defense +.
Wow. With that many on-demand scanners, the chances are slim to none of your PC being infected (:LGH)
To return to your original question: how to check if CFP is protecting? Testing Defense+ just requires you to launch some new program and see if you’re alerted. Testing firewall can be done by scanning your ports like visiting Shields Up.
I do get alerts for new programs and a visit to ‘Shield’s Up’ earlier tonight demonstrated that Comodo firewall was doing everything it is supposed to be doing in all of its tests so I will sit back and enjoy the computer.
