Hosting with a firewall

[Ja'chyra]

I have Norton Internet pro installed on my machine and my question is do I have to switch this off as well as the windows XP firewall to host a game?

Also what does this mean in regard to my security?

All help appreciated http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

[Puzz3D]

You have to disable the firewalls for your hosted game to be visible. This is because your machine becomes the server for the battle, and the joiner's machines have to be able to see your machine. I've run without firewall for over 2 years and never got a virus except once when I accidentally left file sharing turned on and got 7 network worms, but then again I'm not using WinXP which is probably the main target these days. Also, use a text email program like Agent instead of Outlook so that attacments don't automatically run.

[Ja'chyra]

Ok so I have to turn both firewalls off, but I do have intrusion detection I take it this will help?

I use outlook express but Norton scans all the incoming E-mails and attachments even if they are zipped.

Thanks Puzz3D http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif Most appreciated http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[CBR]

Well if you disable the firewall only when playing/hosting MTW then the risk is minimal. The last few months I have seen some worm suddenly appearing on my pc (when I didnt use router that normally would stop it) but my anti virus picked it up right away.

Last few days I have used a firewall and Im surprised to see all the attempts of scanning my pc, but then again, all these scans and so few that tries to hurt you with worm or whatever.

Main thing is not open weird attachments coming from emails and check any downloaded files with anti virus..thats the primary way of being infected with something. Common sense and a good anti virus is the best weapon http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


CBR

[Jochi Khan]

Hi again Ja'chyra

I run Norton Anti Virus Professional and Zone Alarm firewall on my machine.
To play and host games I only shut down Zone Alarm. I leave Norton Antivirus running.
I have had no problems with this.

...Jochi

[Puzz3D]

You have to keep the anti-virus definitions up to date. It's an ongoing arms race between the virus makers and the anti-virus makers. Most of the virus detection is done by looking for patterns unique to a specific virus. If you don't have the latest patterns in your anti-virus definitions, it can fail to detect a recently created virus. In fact, the anti-virus definitions are always lagging behind the new viruses, so I would say only open attachments that you really need even if you do scan them.

[Ja'chyra]

Thanks again peeps http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

I update my definitions automatically and rarely receive E-mails with attachments. I'll just switch off the Norton firewall when I'm playing and leave the windows one off all the time I think as you need to reconnect for that one.

Jochi you're starting to be like my personnal font of all knowledge http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif thanks bud http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Nigel]

I leave teh windows XP firewall on when playing MTW.

I can still host, ony drawback is that not all players can see my game. That is no problem if I just want to play anyone that comes along. I am still visible to enough players to get a game quickly. Only if I want to meet a particular player it can be troublesome. But so far I am still happily playing with teh XP firewall in place.

[Dionysus9]

Nigel--

The players who arent seeing your game are probably running a different version of MTW than you are (i.e. they aren't playing VI). Players with different versions wont see eachothers games.

Of course it could be your firewall, but next time someone cant see your game ask them what version they are running.

[Lord Rom]

I play with xp's firewall up. I kept getting some annoying things happening with it down completely. I had to open the proper ports first. Check the apocethary's posts for how to do it, and which ports to open. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Ja'chyra]

I finally got MP working http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-sunny.gif but be warned, it's very addictive http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

In case anyone else has the same problem what I do is turn off nortons firewall but leave on the intrusion detection and evrything else, I also leave on the xp firewall and haven't had to open any ports or mess around with it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-thumbsup.gif

I have now been playing for about a week and take my turn of hosting games. When I host I just alt-tab out of the game, switch off norton firewall, host the game and then switch it back on again, nae bother at all.

I just thought I'd post in case anyone else has been having the same trouble. Have fun all http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif