[LibKill]

I know this is a vanity, but if you would let it stay in the main forum for a few hours before it is moved to chat, I would really appreciate it.

I need help from technical minded freepers.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

The program failed. Just restart. Reinstall if crashes continue.

[Swordmaker]

Get a Internet Router... even though you have only one computer, the Router can act as a hardware firewall between you and the outside world. They are easy to set up and easy to maintain... Linksys makes one that is easy on the pocketbook.

The other benefit come when you want to add another computer for another family member... both share the same internet connection.

[Texas_Jarhead]

same thing uused to happen to me until I got a newer version

re-install or get the latest version

[netmilsmom]

Netmilsdad says our BEFSX41 Linksys firewall/router will do the job. It was less than 100.00 and he bought it at BestBuy. It went in as soon as we got our cable modem and has been great.

[Slings and Arrows]

What OS are you using?

[willieroe]

Have you scanned for viruses lately? Some information online suggests that repeated failings of VSMON could be the result of a computer virus.

[Cboldt]

I use a netgear MR314. It has 802.11b as well.

[NYTexan]

Linksys cable/dsl 4 port router will do the trick!

Make sure you enable Block WAN requests in the security page and change the password from the default.

[Prodigal Son]

What's wrong with Norton?

[Mannaggia l'America]

I'm using an SMC Barricade as a firewall for my cable connection. It has a 4-port hub built into it and passes all of the Gibson tests.

[Cboldt]

Linux is cool. I love it. But setting up a firewall is not trivial.

When I went to cable modem I put in the router -- my Linux box is easily invisible to the outside world, and easily open on my local network.

Local network has WIN boxes on it too -- and they are equally invisible to the outside world. I've tried peeking in (running nmap as root from the outside), and the router is "barely there."

[ken in texas]

Many of us have had good success with Linksys routers.

You said that you have DSL... is this a PPPOE setup? If so, some folks have had problems with Linksys and PPPOE. I had to switch my church from Linksys to a D-Link router to correct connection problems because that provider used PPPOE.

[nobdysfool]

I installed a Linksys router with a hardware firewall on my brother's system for his RoadRunner connection, and backed it up with ZoneAlarm as a software 'second firewall". Gibson Research's test said there was no computer at the IP address of his router. I bought it at Best Buy for about $79. 4-Port, so you can hook up more than one computer to it. Cable connection comes to Cable "modem", into LinkSys router, and the computer's ethernet card is attached to one of the ports with a jumper wire (Cat5e). He hasn't had a problem with it since.

[supercat]

Actually, what I'd like to see would be a combination hardware/software firewall setup so that the software firewall encrypts data going between the computer and the hardware firewall, based upon the application trying to send the data. It would seem that such a setup would make it more difficult for rogue applications to send data to the outside world (though unfortunately I think IE "plug-ins" and ActiveX create a huge security hole). A hardware firewall by itself, without software assistance, would have no way of knowing whether an outgoing packet was being sent by an authorized application, and without some form of encryption between the software and hardware firewalls it would be possible for a rogue application to simply bypass the software firewall and get out through the hardware one.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Just as an FYI, here's the first page of the Google search for
VSMON errors

Good luck!

[w_over_w]

bttt

[supercat]

BTW, is there any way to disable auto-startup of CD's/DVD's under Windows XP?

[tophat9000]

Linksys.....still the best for the money .... I set up networks for people

No one should be on a always on Cable modem/DSL connection with out a hardware firewall.... no matter want brand or type of computer....including you Mac people!

[Khurkris]

I have been running Zone Alarm free edition for several years.Today 'BEST BUY' has a sale on Zone Alarm Pro 4.0 for $19.95. I just bought it, uninstalled my free Zone Alarm and installed the Pro 4.0 version. Runs like a top.

OS- WinXP Pro (I do not use the XP firewall)

Cable ISP (Road Runner)