Beware of Microsoft’s AntiSpyware Beta program

[bberrette]

I found out the hard way that if you use Microsoft’s AntiSpyware Beta program, your computer will show to have some open ports, and many closed ports rather than being all stealth, while using ZoneAlarm pro alone with no hardware router!

If you want to test this, just install Microsoft’s AntiSpyware Beta program, set it up, let it D/L all the necessary updates, reboot the computer, then go to Speedguide.net/scan.php, GRC.com, Auditmypc.com, or any other testing page.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Sounds like ZoneAlarm needs an update, probably has something that MS AS doesn't get along with.

Such is the life of software firewalls though, often incompatibilities here 'n there, one of several reasons I prefer NAT routers.

I'll wager once MS goes official release with the AS program in a couple of months, ZA will release an update. After all, MS AS is still technically in beta. I love the program.

[Dark_Regent]

Well gee I use Microsoft’s AntiSpyware Beta program. But I know better than to use any zonealarm product. I personally use sygate.
Service Ports Status Additional Information

FTP DATA 20 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

FTP 21 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

SSH 22 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

TELNET 23 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

SMTP 25 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

DNS 53 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

DCC 59 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

FINGER 79 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

WEB 80 CLOSED This port has responded to our probes. This means that you are not running any application on this port, but it is still possible for someone to crash your computer through known TCP/IP stack vulnerabilities.

POP3 110 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

IDENT 113 CLOSED This port has responded to our probes. This means that you are not running any application on this port, but it is still possible for someone to crash your computer through known TCP/IP stack vulnerabilities.

NetBIOS 139 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

HTTPS 443 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

Server Message Block 445 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

SOCKS PROXY 1080 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

SOURCE PORT 1359 BLOCKED This is the port you are using to communicate to our Web Server. A firewall that uses Stateful Packet Inspection will show a 'BLOCKED' result for this port.

WEB PROXY 8080 BLOCKED This port has not responded to any of our probes. It appears to be completely stealthed.

[§I€MFKR™]

With MS AS Beta active and Norton Internet Worm for firewall I show filtered with the SG test and others.

[fathom0200]

GRC.com

No way am i doing this. Downloading an exe i've never heard off to run on my pc.

[MadDoctor]

Protect yourself as you feel necessary against .exe files... but GRC.com has been around a long time and is highly respected by computer types like us.