How Secure is Windows Firewall?

Garret writes "Though Microsoft is doing their part in protecting Windows users from internet attacks by including a firewall in their latest service pack, one has to wonder just how secure is the Windows Firewall from XP Service Pack 2? Not too good according to Flexbeta. Their recommendation is to turn off Windows Firewall and get an alternative such as ZoneAlarm or Sygate PF. Simply the fact that Windows Firewall can be turned off by another application is enough to tell me Microsoft has goofed again." PCWorld also has a story about the new firewall capability.

Comments

Pathetic Flaw

[chrisflather]

A piece of software on the local machine can disable the firewall? Is this even a flaw?

Any firewall that runs as a user-started service (such as Kerio WinRoute Firewall) can be disable by other pieces of software. Kerio WinRoute can be disable simply by typing "net stop winroute" at a windows command line. I suspect much is true of other firewalls - even those that done run as services could probably be terminated with good ol' taskkill.

If the malicious software is already on your machine disabling the firewall is the least of your worries.

I'm already secure....

[Rick Zeman]

...I have a Mac. :-)