2kmaro
Think
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join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
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1 edit | [ALL] Cox 'Security/Privacy' Suite Available
The Main Panel |
 ) for the first time that Cox does offer its subscribers a complete Security and Privacy Suite that includes:
Firewall (two-way, bless their hearts)
Anti-Virus
Anti-Spam
Popup Blocker
and
Parental Control
I decided to look into it some. The next few posts of mine will give a first impression of this suite. I say first impression because I’ve only had it installed on two systems for a few days and I have not actually tested the effectiveness of its components, especially the firewall and anti-virus components.
Where did it come from? As best as I can determine, the suite was developed by Authentium. Quite frankly that’s not a company I’ve heard of before, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – just means that Authentium and I travel in different circles. I asked about them in our Security forum and one respondent gave them good scores.
How do you get it? You can start by going to »www.cox.net and then
Go to Internet Tools (link on left side)
Log in using your primary email account address and the password for it.
Eventually you’ll end up on a page where you can download and install it. Once installed, it requires activation by going to the link provided and once again entering your Cox primary email account information. You are allowed to install/activate on up to four (4) systems. That should take care of most home users. If you’ve got more than 4 machines, I’m not sure if there are provisions for that or not. The install is done real time over the internet – there is no “save to disk and run later” option.
Note This security/privacy tool suite is ONLY available for Windows. Linux and Mac users are still on their own.
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2kmaro
Think
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| Installation Issues
As I said, I’ve got it installed on two systems now. Interesting experiences there. Thank goodness for tech support: I first called my local tech support folks and they gave me a toll-free number to a group set up to specifically support this suite. Their hours of operation are from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. east coast time.
Ok – try number one on my Opteron 150 system (Windows XP Pro/SP2, 1 GB RAM). It blew up! In the middle of the installation I got an error with a notification that a file named InnovaAlert.ocx could not register itself with the system. I bailed out of that one – and that was the reason for my first call for tech support. Although I got word from one non-support person that this was (probably) due to a file of that name already existing in my /system32 folder, that turned out to not be the case as there was no file of that name anywhere on the system. When I finally got with the tech support folks they told me simply to click the [Ignore] button on the alert window until it stayed off of the screen! I did that later on and the suite seems to be functional on the system. But I’ve not been able to find out what, if anything, not having that file register itself affects. Supposedly there is a fix coming out for this within the next couple of weeks or so.
The installation on the second machine (AMD 3200+ Windows XP Pro/SP2 1 GB RAM) went better. However, because I had the Windows firewall up and running, the Cox suite said it would leave things in that state, hinting that I could change the settings later. That turned out to be not quite true also. Eventually I tried to deactivate the Windows firewall – and did so without problem. But when I went to activate the Cox Suite firewall it was unavailable. Another call to tech support and they had me do a “repair” install of the suite at that point and I was able to get the firewall up and running.
After installation and startup on both machines the suite wants to go do an update and to go and get you to activate it like I mentioned earlier. Of course I permitted the update and went thru the painless activation.
Next comes the simple setup of the components.
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2kmaro
Think
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1 edit | 
Firewall Settings | 
A Firewall Alert Screen |
Notice at the bottom of the screen there is a choice to apply your firewall settings not only to internet-bound connections but also to your LAN connections. This can be useful to prevent other systems on your LAN from infecting your computer.
At medium and high settings, the firewall can be pretty “noisy” for a while, until you get it trained. The system tray icon will flash with a very obvious bright red exclamation point to let you know the system needs attention. Otherwise it is very quiet there in the tray. When you bring up the alert screen it gives some informative info and choices on the action to take. When in doubt, just say NO. Worst thing that can happen is you won’t be able to do what you think you wanted to and will try again – at which point you’ll realize that whatever wants out has to be allowed out in order for you to do what you want to do 
Based on what alerts I’ve seen and what programs generated them, the firewall seems pretty tight. But I haven’t fully tested it yet – I’ll probably do that within the next 2 or 3 days.
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2kmaro
Think
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| 
Anti-Virus Options |
This thing needs some real testing – I have no idea how it deals with email attachments or drive-by downloads of malware.
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2kmaro
Think
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ColossalCave
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| 
Privacy Settings Options |
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2kmaro
Think
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clubs:
| 
Parental Control Options |
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2kmaro
Think
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| 
Control Panel | | 
Setup Screen |
The second screen lets you toggle the components on and off as you feel they will work best for your setup.
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2kmaro
Think
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join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
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|
The suite contains two important tools: a bi-directional firewall and an anti-virus package with on-access scanning. How effective they are is yet to be determined.
The privacy tool looks a little weak to me. But when combined with others, such as the Google toolbar, they may help quite a bit. Combined with Microsoft’s Anti-Spyware program, the package should be very good.
Although I had some problems with both installations, the tech support folks were able to quickly deal with the problems I encountered and did have solutions for me. Just be sure and tackle your installation and setup early in the evening so that you don’t have to wait until they open to get help.
Cox needs to publicize the availability of this suite more. When they do start publicizing it to their customers they also need to emphasize WHY this suite or its equivalent MUST be installed on every system. Yes, MUST, not just should. Anyone surfing without some kind of firewall and without anti-virus is, IMHO, either part of the problem or getting ready to become part of the problem.
UPDATES: Right now the system seems to routinely check for updates, but it is not a silent update. Silent updates need to be implemented – get the files, install them, and just leave me a note that it’s been done. I understand silent updates are also planned as part of a future update to the system.
I’d really like to see the ability to download and install later. Why? Because of that firewall thing – I don’t like the idea of a user being on-line without a firewall in place even for the short time it might take to do a repair. Luckily for me I run a NAT (and then some) firewalling router, so taking down my software firewall during the process posed minimal risk. But for someone without a router, that means running through the forest fire naked until the firewall gets reinstalled and activated. Not a good thing.
Final Word: It’s free, it’s centralized, and the support is ‘closer’ than with most products you buy off the shelf. Now no Cox residential user with Windows has any excuse NOT to have at least a firewall and anti-virus up and running.
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Smokey
Even drunk on a bet ya make it to Canada
Premium
join:2003-05-20
Va Beach
clubs: | Nice review mate. |
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Plasticman
Will Work For Bandwidth
Premium
join:2002-09-06
Harrisville, RI
clubs: | Very good review there. I am sure the Cox employee's will be giving you an atta boy as soon as they read this review....
Plasticman |
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Pallas Athena
@147.134.x.x | reply to 2kmaro
Authentium utilizes the F-Prot engine, so that's the type of performance you would expect. |
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2kmaro
Think
Premium,ExMod 1 BC
join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
clubs: | That's good to know - thanks for the information. |
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dellboy
Yeah...I Dont Know
Premium
join:2003-02-15
Topeka, KS
| reply to 2kmaro
I have been using this software for awhile now i think its been a couple months. It has worked great for me!!!!
I spend alot of time on P2P and it has caught every virus that i have come across which is up to about 180 so far.
The anti-spyware also seems quite adequate as long a i run the cox anti-spyware spybot and microsoft very rarely find any others.
just my half cent |
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razorbackfan
Go Hogs Go
join:2004-01-02
Ridgway, CO
clubs: | reply to 2kmaro
Thank you for the review. |
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BillRoland
Premium
join:2001-01-21
Ocala, FL
clubs: |  reply to 2kmaro
Great review 2kmaro ! |
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BBR_InsUW
AA or NF thats my Game
Premium,Mod
join:2000-04-22
La Mesa, CA
clubs: | reply to 2kmaro
So good it made a Sticky |
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wword
join:2005-04-12
| reply to 2kmaro
The "Pop Up Stopper" that Cox makes available via download to customers CONTAINS A BUG.
It's either spyware itself or has some other compromised content because once installed, it alerts to finding a known spyware search bar but refuses to allow disconnect or deletion of that followed by some other nonsense.
I devoted a great deal of email energy to communcating specific failures and problems with their program to Cox and did receive acknowledgement about the spyware alert issue but then would repeatedly receive foolish email responses beyond that, to the effect, 'since you haven't responded within the past ** hours, we are closing this support request...'
I'd write again and start all over, they'd continue to do this on and on and on and on. Point is, they appear aware that they are making spyware of some sort available within their very "Security Suite" and refuse to offer any further explanation about it.
I removed the program, very thoroughly, reinstalled my OS after certain housekeeping, and continue to use Norton Professional (firewall and antivirus and more), combined with Spybot Search & Destroy, AdAware and Spyware Blaster.
These last three are free downloads (google them) and work great with Windows XP and Norton. I'd avoid Cox's "solutions" at all costs -- they also provide no technical support FOR those programs so beware the "free spyware" offer. |
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wword
join:2005-04-12
| And use Trendmicro's Housecall Online for a free and very effective online viral scan and security scan, and also use same provided by Symantec.
Norton Antivirus is still the best but it's advised (my opinion) that you purchase Norton Professional (includes the antiviral program for a year with updates) because it has a great firewall and provides really shocking information as to what it blocks and prevents from contacting your computer.
Which the Cox programs don't. Use Norton Professional (firewall, antiviral) and rely on more reliable programs to keep spyware away (Spybot Search & Destroy, Spyware Blaster and AdAware, all free). With those all running on your computer, you block all known dialers, trojans, worms, scans/pings, even everything if you want to. |
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wword
join:2005-04-12
| AND, Norton Professional blocks all advertising or very site specific ads, whatever you want (you can select as precisely as you want, block all ads and/or even block only certain ads on certain sites)...
Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes, also, a "pop up blocker" that is (free) included in the SP2 download.
Norton does not compete with it -- in fact, they've functioned both well together and individually, not a problem and I've never seen a popup I didn't want since installing both, or even one.
I'd avoid these freebies by Cox. They're not nearly as comprehensive as you may assume and are not comprehensive firewalls; people using them probably are still vulnerable to a wide array of spyware, particularly, that Norton Professional keeps away. Norton, especially, blocks even pings and traces the "attacker" for you if needed, providing you the opportunity to block entire networks or individual I.P.s if necessary (which is effective for most from China, Korea and Taiwan -- most who scan for unused services and then hack when open ports are found).
Spyware Search & Destroy is a highly recommended anti-spyware tool, it's free and it is incredibly thorough, so go download that and then run it often. It will even scan your registry and then block any changes, etc. as selected. Great program. |
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2kmaro
Think
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join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
clubs:
| reply to 2kmaro
This really wasn't intended to be a "this other software works better" thread - or a which security tools are best thread. Simply a notice of a free-as-part-of-your-montly-fee package availability.
If you browse around our security forum you'll find, especially in the realm of anti-spyware tools, that there simply is not a one-tool-finds-fixes-all package available. You'll also find that not all packages are suitable for all machines. Some have become so bloated that it seems that unless you have a system built just yesterday they won't hardly run or slow the system to a crawl, or they dig into the OS more insidiously than IE and don't uninstall cleanly (my personal gripes about a certain optional package already mentioned in this thread, and I'm not talking about the Cox offering). Personally, if I was going to pay for a package and wanted an integrated package, I'd spend my money with Kaspersky. As a matter of fact, besides the 2 machines that are running the Cox suite, the other 3 are running either Kaspersky Anti-Virus or Kaspersky's security suite (a-v, firewall, anti-spam/spyware). I also run Giant Anti-Spyware on one system, and the Microsoft anti-spyware app which was based on Giant on the others. And Spyware Guard on all. AND I run other tools routinely, such as AdAware, BOClean and Doctor Spyware.
What we're talking about here is a set of tools offered as a single package, with a single source of support, that is available simply for the asking as part of the service.
Unless a definite weakness (such as the apparent problem reported in wword 's first post and/or problem with support) is found in it, I'm not sure it's appropriate to be 'comparing' it to other packages. I could have made mention of numerous others, both negatively and positively. I'm not saying the Cox provided package is any better or worse than any others, simply reporting its existance.
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