Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
 ·North State Commun..
| Honestly....
They are generally pointless for the majority of users.
I mean, how many people know WTH svchost.exe is and why it's trying to access the internet.
The general computer populace doesn't understand outbound protection, what needs it and what doesn't.
--
TripOnThis.net Administrator
"Security by obscurity is no security at all. Don't believe the hype." (c) MntlCase |
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MarkyD
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs:
 ·Cox HSI
| said by Matt  :
They are generally pointless for the majority of users.
I mean, how many people know WTH svchost.exe is and why it's trying to access the internet.
The general computer populace doesn't understand outbound protection, what needs it and what doesn't.
True. My mother calls me often asking "what is xxxx.exe and should I allow it to access the internet?"
Then, I got her a Mac. 
--
HyperJoe 2004 |
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exocet_cm
In memory of dadkins
Premium
join:2003-03-23
New Orleans, LA
clubs:  
·Cox HSI
·Suddenlink
 ·Cingular Wireless
·AT&T Southeast
·Charter Pipeline
| quote:
True. My mother calls me often asking "what is xxxx.exe and should I allow it to access the internet?"
Then, I got her a Mac.
LOL! That's awesome! 
--
I know that God is real, but I don't think He created this vast universe just for us.
Seti@Home & Seti@Boinc |
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Jason Levine
Premium
join:2001-07-13
USA
| reply to Matt
said by Matt :
They are generally pointless for the majority of users.
I mean, how many people know WTH svchost.exe is and why it's trying to access the internet.
The general computer populace doesn't understand outbound protection, what needs it and what doesn't.
Let's assume that we have two identical clueless users whose PCs are infected by viruses/spyware/trojan/whatever that is trying to connect out to either spread itself or phone home. The user without outbound protection will always let the malicious app connect out. The user with the outbound protection at least has a 50% chance of blocking it (Yes/No). And if the "do you want to let it connect to the Internet" question is phrased right, they might get scared enough to click No or at least ask a PC expert.
--
-Jason Levine
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/
http://www.PCQandA.com/
http://www.urateit.com/ |
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Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| said by Jason Levine :
The user with the outbound protection at least has a 50% chance of blocking it (Yes/No). And if the "do you want to let it connect to the Internet" question is phrased right, they might get scared enough to click No or at least ask a PC expert.
Very True, but the majority of users are simply going to remember, "When I say no, things don't work." and are conditioned to say yes.
--
TripOnThis.net Administrator
"Security by obscurity is no security at all. Don't believe the hype." (c) MntlCase |
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jdmurray
Premium
join:2001-03-02
Huntington Beach, CA
clubs: | reply to MarkyD
I take it that her Mac doesn't have a software firewall installed and that's how you got her off your back? |
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MarkyD
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| said by jdmurray :
I take it that her Mac doesn't have a software firewall installed and that's how you got her off your back?
Only OS X's built in firewall. However, OS X does not have programs like spyware and trojans that "phone home." I can give her a Mac with no outbound firewall and know that she won't get infected with a load of crap.
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HyperJoe 2004 |
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deway2
join:2004-01-12
Roanoke, VA | reply to Matt
Don't forget the 50/50/90 rule. If there is a 50/50 chance 90% chose the wrong answer, statistically! |
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