Hi, some of you might have ran into this problem with Norton 2005. I just recently updated my emule program and I keep getting a Security Alert Pop Up asking me to Permit or Block the file emule.exe. The problem is that is keeps coming beck wether I choose Permit or Block. This also has prevent me from using a couple Torrent programs. Is there a way to stop these annoying Pop Ups???? Sincerely, mat
I Norton is not remembering the settings, I'd suggest reinstalling Norton's. Actually, I suggest GETTING RID OF NORTON'S and using a better product suite, such as Comodo Firewall (free) alongside AVG or Antivir antivirus. emule.exe appears to be the eMule peer-to-peer client. However, it should only run on-demand, not at startup, such that your firewall would see it trying to connect when you specifically clicked on it. Have you looked in your Startup folder or in any of the startup registry keys (easiest to access via MSCONFIG.EXE)?
Thanks for the reply. I checked the startup registry keys, and I'm not seeing anything that points to the e-mule program. Like I mentioned, I've had this occur with some Torrent programs as well. So it very well might be that Norton looses track after updates of a program. I am curious about your suggestion in getting rid of Norton. I do have a crack version, and I've never been really disappointed with it's performance, but what do I know? You gave me two suggestions, which one should I go with? Comodo alongside AVG, or Antivir antivirus? I assume they protect your computer just as well if not better, and that they don't slow down your computer more than what Norton would. Any suggestions? Sincerely, mat
They'd slow you down less. Norton's is a RESOURCE HOG, especially if you make use of the proxy and URL filtering. Comodo and AVG or Avira Antivir will do just as good a job and Comodo is a much tougher firewall. There are still proxies (e.g. Proxomitron or various Proxy Auto Config scripts) if you really feel the need to do that or to do URL filtering, but I've found a small HOSTS file (http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/updates.html) is just as effective for normal internet use. The gigantic ones like the MVPS or HP HOSTS files are absolutely formidable, but slow you down some. Most of all, if you don't use internet explorer as your regular web browser, and use Firefox or Opera with Java disabled, you don't have to worry about 99% of the badness out there, so you can really keep your machines lean and mean.
Thanks a bunch Dunker!! You've officially introduced me to hosts files. Though I have one quick question, as I don't want to be bothering you more than I have to. ] From what I can't tell, mvp hosts file don't indicate if it's compatible with firefox. After opening the bat file, how do I get it to register in firefox? Thanks Sincerely, mat
Don't worry, ask away, but check out that site, http://www.geocities.com/yosponge and look at the How-to, particularly the 8-step plan. It's more oriented towards Windows 98, but most of the principles and procedures apply. Even if you don't actually DO the how-to, it helps to explain things. HOSTS isn't related to browsers. It redirects undesirable web addresses to point to your own machine, 127.0.0.1. Web addresses (domains) have to be resolved to an IP address before your computer can contact a site (domain name resolution or DNS). www.afterdawn.com resolves to 70.85.60.84, and the latter is what your computer needs to find afterdawn.com. When you visit most commercial websites, however, you really visit multiple websites, like advertising sites. You've probably seen your browser redirect to ad.doubleclick.net, for example, which is the largest advertising and data-collection service on the internet. This allows them to place cookies, web bugs, load in ad images, conduct attacks, etc. But if a HOSTS file contains the line 127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net then your computer will check the HOSTS file (under normal circumstances) rather than rely on other means for finding the IP address of ad.doubleclick.net. Essentially, the HOSTS file lies about the location of a site. But unlike various browser-based filtering methods, HOSTS files work system-wide - they will work no matter what browsers or software you are running, providing much better protection. The only limitation is if a site is referenced directly by it's IP address, then HOSTS won't do anything - you'd normally use a firewall to block undesirable IPs. Also, the HOSTS file needs exact names - you can't block out, say, all sites with DOUBLECLICK in their name, even though they are all undesirable as far as most people are concerned. There is a program called DNSKong that does that but it doesn't work reliably with Windows XP. P.S. if you are using HOSTS but things seem a little sluggish, try a program called eDexter from www.pyrenean.com.
