Once you install a firewall program, you are going to start receiving messages from it, asking you what you want it to do.  If these are announcements of supposed attacks, you can turn off that notification.  There are so many such attack announcements that you really don't need to see.  Most of them are innocent enough and are simple internet traffic that is not dangero4us.

Other messages from your firewall program are announcements that a specific program is trying to access the internet and asking if you want to allow this.  Below is a list of programs that you will want to give permanent access to the internet.  If you receive a message for a program not on the list, try the following steps to decide for yourself if you need that program to connect to the internet.

1.  If you start a program that you want to use the internet, then you will want the firewall to allow it.  Give these kinds of programs access each time you use it, rather than giving it permanent access.  You usually have the option to give it access this one time or to "remember my answer".

2.  When you are notified that some other program is trying to access the internet, the name of the program should be mentioned in the notice.  If no program name is given, it is probably a bad program and needs to be restricted from the internet.  Do not give that program access.

3.  When a program name is given, write down the name of the program, and then tell your firewall to NOT allow it to access the internet.  Now make sure that everything works on the internet as it should.  Make sure you are able to browse the internet and that you are able to send and receive email.  When the same program tries again to access the internet, put a check mark next to its name on your list, and again make sure everything is working fine.  Do this again, so that you have tested this restriction three times.  If everything still works fine, that program probably does not need to access the internet.  The fourth time you are asked about that particular program, you can tell the firewall to permanently restrict access.

Programs That Need Access To The Internet

The following list are some programs that DO need to get to the internet in order for things to work properly on your computer.  When you are asked about these programs, give them a permanent "yes" or "Allow".  You can usually do this by checking a box that says something like, "Remember my answer next time...." and then clicking on the Yes or Allow button.

iexplore.exe (Internet Explorer)
OR
firefox.exe (Mozilla's Firefox internet browser)

explorer.exe (Windows Explorer)

lsass.exe (Windows XP password validation program)

msimm.exe (Outlook Express email program)
OR
thunderbird.exe (Mozilla's email program)

ndisuio.sys

ntoskrnl.exe

svchost.exe

wuauclt.exe (Windows AutoUpdate)

Other programs can be given access each time you use them, rather than giving them permanent access:

aim.exe (AOL Instant Messenger)

msmsgs.exe (MSN Messenger)

Dwwin.exe (Dr. Watson)

qbksupdate.exe (Quick Books automatic updates)

quicktimeplayer.exe (Quick Time Player)

realplay.exe (Real Player)

wkufind.exe (Works and Picture It update)

If you are using an antivirus program (and you should), you will also need to allow it access to the internet.  Following are the programs that Norton AntiVirus uses.  If you use a different antivirus program, you will need to go to that manufacturer's website to find out which programs it uses.

navapw32.exe
Norton .....  (anything starting with "Norton")
Symantec (anything with "Symantec" in it)
Common Client
LiveUpdate
CCapp

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