Mech's Guide for First-time Builders

[ghoti]

I'm assembling my first DYI computer -- mechBgon's Guide has been tremendously helpful! I've gotten down to his 'serious' warning about the dangers of connecting the new computer to the internet without a fully-updated software firewall plus virus scanner OR at least a hardware firewall (e.g., that provided by a cable/DSL router).

I don't need a router at this time.

I bought Norton Internet Security in a retail box (includes firewall and anti-virus), however, as I'm sure most know, it needs copious updating (obtained by downloads) before it is current, both as to the virus definitions AND as to the firewall software. How can I get it up to date without exposing my new computer to 'unprotected' internet exposure? I'd love to have a fully-updated firewall and virus scanner on a CD (as Mech suggests), but I have no clue as to how to get that.

Thanks for any help.

 

[jswjimmy]

turm on the firewall that comes with windows and norton then update every(online) thing, DONT do any thing elce just update. i would do windows first then norton then all the drivers. then its safe to surf the net.

 

[jswjimmy]

and for the updates on cd, i forget how to do it on windows, but in norton go to cnet.com click on downloads then look for norton. it should have all the updates for nav.

 

[mechBgon]

Here's a start: a downloadable, burnable package that updates your antivirus definitions without going online Remember to arm it with maximum heuristics and have it deal with infections autonomously, not ask you for a yes/no. Clean-else-quarantine or Clean-else-delete would be good schemes.

I looked here and there are no updates for Norton Internet Security's firewall at this point, it doesn't look like. Once you have everything set up, you might want to visit BroadBand Reports and have it probe your ports here. You can also register for their Forums and then use their Slow Scan that's linked at the bottom of that page. I did that last night, and it was interesting to see my system's ZoneAlarm firewall furiously logging the probes as they came (I'm on dial-up, don't have a router that works with it ). Definitely makes a guy sit up and take notice when the firewall can block over 2500 probe attempts in the space of a couple minutes over a 56k line.

If I haven't said it already, welcome to the Forums and glad to hear my guide is coming in useful

 

[ghoti]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Though judging from all the updates for NIS -- on this old Dell -- I've downloaded using "Live Update" for NIS 2002, it's difficult to believe Symantec's web page assertion that there've been no updates for NIS 2004. At least I'll have current virus definitions.

I'll be back with more questions, I'm sure -- I'm nowhere near done with the process of getting this thing up and running.

It's great to have y'all to ask and get help from!

:thumbsup: