Currently Supported Software Firewall Solution for Win98SE?

Hi all,

I'm giving my old laptop to my disabled sister, who is on a fixed income.
It's a Toshiba Satellite 1605CDS. It will be her first computer (she's 46
and very smart). She's most interested in being able to stay in touch via
email and to explore the internet (dial-up connection - like PeoplePC - will
be her only affordable option). I'm in Florida and she lives in
Massachusetts, so I'll be shipping it to her location via FedEx.

The laptop was new in 2000 and has Win98SE for the OS. It's like new -
wasn't used much. I wiped the 4.3GB HDD and restored it to its factory
condition using the Configuration Builder CD; updated the bios
(recommended - for improved thermal management); and installed additional
software. The easiest way to get some software such as AdAware, or Avast!
(compatible with Win98SE), from the internet to the laptop was via an
external USB Iomega Zip drive I have. However, when I went to download
Zonelab's ZoneAlarm (via my XP desktop), I discovered Zonelabs no longer
supports Win98 as of July 11, 2006.

So, here's my dilemma: *Finding a currently supported, reliable software
firewall solution for Win98SE*. If a software solution isn't possible, would
using only a hardware firewall (i.e. Linksys router) be sufficient
protection?

Other choices I've thought of a


Don't go online with the laptop. Sister won't be happy about this.

Keep the 4.3GB HDD and install ??? MS OS. (the laptop's installed RAM is
maxed out to 128MB)

Replace the 4.3GB HDD w/larger drive and install ??? MS OS. Husband doesn't
want to spend the money for this solution, but I'm open to spending my money
if the OS performance isn't reduced to a crawl by hardware limitations.

Buy her a new, inexpensive desktop or laptop. More $$ than either of us care
to spend right now, but if no other choice is available...

Install Linux Ubuntu or Kubuntu which runs great on old hardware. I already
have the Dist CDs. (yeah, I know, this is a Microsoft NG). :-)


Any direction or suggestions anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance and for reading this far. :-)

Cheryl

"Cheryl" wrote in message
...

So, here's my dilemma: *Finding a currently supported, reliable software
firewall solution for Win98SE*. If a software solution isn't possible,
would
using only a hardware firewall (i.e. Linksys router) be sufficient
protection?

Ans = Yes if she plans to connect via
Ethernet (CATV cable or wireless, with high
speed service.) You can insert between
laptop and external Ethernet modem a $20
router that functions as a hardware firewall
(i.e. not as a switch. This is how I connect
via wireless: no CATV here.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
...
| "Cheryl" wrote in message
| ...
|
| So, here's my dilemma: *Finding a currently supported, reliable software
| firewall solution for Win98SE*. If a software solution isn't possible,
| would
| using only a hardware firewall (i.e. Linksys router) be sufficient
| protection?
|
| Ans = Yes if she plans to connect via
| Ethernet (CATV cable or wireless, with high
| speed service.) You can insert between
| laptop and external Ethernet modem a $20
| router that functions as a hardware firewall
| (i.e. not as a switch. This is how I connect
| via wireless: no CATV here.)
|
| --
| Don Phillipson
| Carlsbad Springs
| (Ottawa, Canada)

Thanks for responding Don. I just spoke with her. Initially, she had said
she was able to afford only dial-up. Now she's looking into the price of
Comcast high-speed cable internet service since she already has cable TV
with them. If she can afford it, this issue is resolved - thanks to you.

Could you confirm for me please? The router then connects to the laptop via
the USB port, correct?
I'm also giving her my Kodak Easyshare CX7430 digital camera. Since there is
only one USB port on the laptop, can she simply hot-swap the camera and
internet connection to upload pictures? Will doing so compromise the router
firewall in any way (cause it to need re-setting or...)?

Hope you're keeping warm way up there in Canada.
Thanks again, Don!
Cheryl

"Cheryl" wrote in message
...

| Ans = Yes if she plans to connect via
| Ethernet (CATV cable or wireless, with high
| speed service.) You can insert between
| laptop and external Ethernet modem a $20
| router that functions as a hardware firewall
| (i.e. not as a switch. This is how I connect
| via wireless: no CATV here.)
. . .

Could you confirm for me please? The router then connects to the laptop
via
the USB port, correct?

No: USB sockets are small horizontal slits. The ports
we are talking about here are LAN ports, which look like
oversize telephone jacks but are wider (for 6 or 8 contacts
where a phone line uses only four).

External routers commonly have four LAN ports
(grouped together) and one Ethernet port for the
high speed Internet connection (which looks like
the LAN ports but is solo) and modern PC's all
have a single Ethernet jack. Desktop PCs with
external modems use an Ethernet connector
(special wire) from the modem directly to the PC
Ethernet jack. To add a router to this, you plug
the Ethernet connector instead into the router,
and then use a LAN connector to link the PC
to the router no. 1 LAN jack. (Necessary
connectors are usually supplied free with routers.)

I'm also giving her my Kodak Easyshare CX7430 digital camera. Since there
is
only one USB port on the laptop, can she simply hot-swap the camera and
internet connection to upload pictures? Will doing so compromise the
router
firewall in any way (cause it to need re-setting or...)?

This seems OK. The USB port will be vacant because
the laptop connects to Internet via the Ethernet jack.
(The small USB Ethernet devices you see are
used mostly to let laptops link to private LANs in a
single house, where the network is run by a desktop.
No doubt there are other uses, which may not concern
a laptop/router as network centre.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Try looking for alternatives at the following website:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/ then FILES, then firewalls

Some of the free ones claim to work under 98.

The solution suggested by one of the other replies, using a router, will
also work.

"Cheryl" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

I'm giving my old laptop to my disabled sister, who is on a fixed income.
It's a Toshiba Satellite 1605CDS. It will be her first computer (she's 46
and very smart). She's most interested in being able to stay in touch via
email and to explore the internet (dial-up connection - like PeoplePC -
will
be her only affordable option). I'm in Florida and she lives in
Massachusetts, so I'll be shipping it to her location via FedEx.

The laptop was new in 2000 and has Win98SE for the OS. It's like new -
wasn't used much. I wiped the 4.3GB HDD and restored it to its factory
condition using the Configuration Builder CD; updated the bios
(recommended - for improved thermal management); and installed additional
software. The easiest way to get some software such as AdAware, or Avast!
(compatible with Win98SE), from the internet to the laptop was via an
external USB Iomega Zip drive I have. However, when I went to download
Zonelab's ZoneAlarm (via my XP desktop), I discovered Zonelabs no longer
supports Win98 as of July 11, 2006.

So, here's my dilemma: *Finding a currently supported, reliable software
firewall solution for Win98SE*. If a software solution isn't possible,
would
using only a hardware firewall (i.e. Linksys router) be sufficient
protection?

Other choices I've thought of a


Don't go online with the laptop. Sister won't be happy about this.

Keep the 4.3GB HDD and install ??? MS OS. (the laptop's installed RAM is
maxed out to 128MB)

Replace the 4.3GB HDD w/larger drive and install ??? MS OS. Husband
doesn't
want to spend the money for this solution, but I'm open to spending my
money
if the OS performance isn't reduced to a crawl by hardware limitations.

Buy her a new, inexpensive desktop or laptop. More $$ than either of us
care
to spend right now, but if no other choice is available...

Install Linux Ubuntu or Kubuntu which runs great on old hardware. I
already
have the Dist CDs. (yeah, I know, this is a Microsoft NG). :-)


Any direction or suggestions anyone can offer would be greatly
appreciated!

Thanks in advance and for reading this far. :-)

Cheryl

"Cheryl" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

I'm giving my old laptop to my disabled sister, who is on a fixed income.
It's a Toshiba Satellite 1605CDS. It will be her first computer (she's 46
and very smart). She's most interested in being able to stay in touch via
email and to explore the internet (dial-up connection - like PeoplePC -
will
be her only affordable option). I'm in Florida and she lives in
Massachusetts, so I'll be shipping it to her location via FedEx.


I use an older version of Zone Alarm
version 6.1 on my win98 machine and it runs fine

you should be able to get it here

http://www.oldversion.com/



BTW: even if you do not use Internet Explorer on the machine you should
install IE6
then go to the windows update page and install all the critical updates

On Wed, 3 Jan 2007 10:58:05 -0500, "Cheryl" wrote:

Hi all,

I'm giving my old laptop to my disabled sister, who is on a fixed income.
It's a Toshiba Satellite 1605CDS. It will be her first computer (she's 46
and very smart). She's most interested in being able to stay in touch via
email and to explore the internet (dial-up connection - like PeoplePC - will
be her only affordable option). I'm in Florida and she lives in
Massachusetts, so I'll be shipping it to her location via FedEx.

The laptop was new in 2000 and has Win98SE for the OS. It's like new -
wasn't used much. I wiped the 4.3GB HDD and restored it to its factory
condition using the Configuration Builder CD; updated the bios
(recommended - for improved thermal management); and installed additional
software. The easiest way to get some software such as AdAware, or Avast!
(compatible with Win98SE), from the internet to the laptop was via an
external USB Iomega Zip drive I have. However, when I went to download
Zonelab's ZoneAlarm (via my XP desktop), I discovered Zonelabs no longer
supports Win98 as of July 11, 2006.

So, here's my dilemma: *Finding a currently supported, reliable software
firewall solution for Win98SE*. If a software solution isn't possible, would
using only a hardware firewall (i.e. Linksys router) be sufficient
protection?

Win98SE isn't supported any longer either, so the fact that ZA-98 is out of
support shouldn't be of any greater concern. The biggest external risk to her
is from use of Internet Exploder.

Other choices I've thought of a

Don't go online with the laptop. Sister won't be happy about this.

Keep the 4.3GB HDD and install ??? MS OS. (the laptop's installed RAM is
maxed out to 128MB)

Replace the 4.3GB HDD w/larger drive and install ??? MS OS. Husband doesn't
want to spend the money for this solution, but I'm open to spending my money
if the OS performance isn't reduced to a crawl by hardware limitations.

Buy her a new, inexpensive desktop or laptop. More $$ than either of us care
to spend right now, but if no other choice is available...

Install Linux Ubuntu or Kubuntu which runs great on old hardware. I already
have the Dist CDs. (yeah, I know, this is a Microsoft NG). :-)

On my 98SE box I have a NAT router which provides A layer of intruder
protection. Haven't had issues, but then I use Firefox in lieu of IE, and
Eudora/Agent in lieu of Outhouse Express.

Forgot to mention. My 98SE install is straight from the CD - no updates
whatsoever.

As always, YMMV.

"rebel" wrote in message
...
| On Wed, 3 Jan 2007 10:58:05 -0500, "Cheryl" wrote:
|
| Hi all,
|
| I'm giving my old laptop to my disabled sister, who is on a fixed income.
| It's a Toshiba Satellite 1605CDS. It will be her first computer (she's 46
| and very smart). She's most interested in being able to stay in touch via
| email and to explore the internet (dial-up connection - like PeoplePC -
will
| be her only affordable option). I'm in Florida and she lives in
| Massachusetts, so I'll be shipping it to her location via FedEx.
|
| The laptop was new in 2000 and has Win98SE for the OS. It's like new -
| wasn't used much. I wiped the 4.3GB HDD and restored it to its factory
| condition using the Configuration Builder CD; updated the bios
| (recommended - for improved thermal management); and installed additional
| software. The easiest way to get some software such as AdAware, or Avast!
| (compatible with Win98SE), from the internet to the laptop was via an
| external USB Iomega Zip drive I have. However, when I went to download
| Zonelab's ZoneAlarm (via my XP desktop), I discovered Zonelabs no longer
| supports Win98 as of July 11, 2006.
|
| So, here's my dilemma: *Finding a currently supported, reliable software
| firewall solution for Win98SE*. If a software solution isn't possible,
would
| using only a hardware firewall (i.e. Linksys router) be sufficient
| protection?
|
| Win98SE isn't supported any longer either, so the fact that ZA-98 is out
of
| support shouldn't be of any greater concern. The biggest external risk to
her
| is from use of Internet Exploder.
|

Thanks rebel. I know. I installed Firefox 2.0 and Thunderbird for her to
use. I deleted the IE & OE shortcuts from the desktop and taskbar and
replaced them with FF and TB shortcuts. I have IE "locked down" per
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techf...surf-safe.html

I use Firefox on my own XP Pro machine. Where possible, I'm installing the
same software packages that I use to her machine, so I can better help her
while she's learning about computers, Windows, etc.

| Other choices I've thought of a
|
| Don't go online with the laptop. Sister won't be happy about this.
|
| Keep the 4.3GB HDD and install ??? MS OS. (the laptop's installed RAM is
| maxed out to 128MB)
|
| Replace the 4.3GB HDD w/larger drive and install ??? MS OS. Husband
doesn't
| want to spend the money for this solution, but I'm open to spending my
money
| if the OS performance isn't reduced to a crawl by hardware limitations.
|
| Buy her a new, inexpensive desktop or laptop. More $$ than either of us
care
| to spend right now, but if no other choice is available...
|
| Install Linux Ubuntu or Kubuntu which runs great on old hardware. I
already
| have the Dist CDs. (yeah, I know, this is a Microsoft NG). :-)
|
| On my 98SE box I have a NAT router which provides A layer of intruder
| protection. Haven't had issues, but then I use Firefox in lieu of IE, and
| Eudora/Agent in lieu of Outhouse Express.
|
| Forgot to mention. My 98SE install is straight from the CD - no updates
| whatsoever.
|
| As always, YMMV.

That was going to be my next question. How to go about updating Win98SE as
far as I can before support stopped. :-)

Thanks again. I appreciate the tips!

Cheryl

"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
...
| "Cheryl" wrote in message
| ...
|
| | Ans = Yes if she plans to connect via
| | Ethernet (CATV cable or wireless, with high
| | speed service.) You can insert between
| | laptop and external Ethernet modem a $20
| | router that functions as a hardware firewall
| | (i.e. not as a switch. This is how I connect
| | via wireless: no CATV here.)
| . . .
|
| Could you confirm for me please? The router then connects to the laptop
| via
| the USB port, correct?
|
| No: USB sockets are small horizontal slits. The ports
| we are talking about here are LAN ports, which look like
| oversize telephone jacks but are wider (for 6 or 8 contacts
| where a phone line uses only four).

Aha. Now this makes sense after looking at my own LAN setup. There are two
PC Card slots on the laptop. My husband (not a computer whiz) said he has an
old SMC Networks PC card (Ethernet) with a LAN jack attached that he's
bringing home shortly. No documentation. No driver disk.

Update: Okay, last night I went online to find/download the driver for the
Ethernet card. After installing that to the laptop, I was able to connect my
router to it and successfully access the internet using Firefox. I was also
able to find and successfully install a Win98SE driver for my PNY Attache
2GB USB flash drive to more easily exchange files.

My sister has confirmed she's going with Comcast high-speed internet and
will wire it herself with a kit supplied by Comcast and a little coaching
from me. I can't believe we're pulling this off. :-)

|
| External routers commonly have four LAN ports
| (grouped together) and one Ethernet port for the
| high speed Internet connection (which looks like
| the LAN ports but is solo) and modern PC's all
| have a single Ethernet jack. Desktop PCs with
| external modems use an Ethernet connector
| (special wire) from the modem directly to the PC
| Ethernet jack. To add a router to this, you plug
| the Ethernet connector instead into the router,
| and then use a LAN connector to link the PC
| to the router no. 1 LAN jack. (Necessary
| connectors are usually supplied free with routers.)

| I'm also giving her my Kodak Easyshare CX7430 digital camera. Since
there
| is
| only one USB port on the laptop, can she simply hot-swap the camera and
| internet connection to upload pictures? Will doing so compromise the
| router
| firewall in any way (cause it to need re-setting or...)?
|
| This seems OK. The USB port will be vacant because
| the laptop connects to Internet via the Ethernet jack.
| (The small USB Ethernet devices you see are
| used mostly to let laptops link to private LANs in a
| single house, where the network is run by a desktop.
| No doubt there are other uses, which may not concern
| a laptop/router as network centre.)
|
| --
| Don Phillipson
| Carlsbad Springs
| (Ottawa, Canada)

Thanks so much for your help, Don! I appreciate having you all as my
"support team". :-)

Cheryl

"philo" wrote in message
...
|
| "Cheryl" wrote in message
| ...
| Hi all,
|
| I'm giving my old laptop to my disabled sister, who is on a fixed
income.
| It's a Toshiba Satellite 1605CDS. It will be her first computer (she's
46
| and very smart). She's most interested in being able to stay in touch
via
| email and to explore the internet (dial-up connection - like PeoplePC -
| will
| be her only affordable option). I'm in Florida and she lives in
| Massachusetts, so I'll be shipping it to her location via FedEx.
|
|
| I use an older version of Zone Alarm
| version 6.1 on my win98 machine and it runs fine
|
| you should be able to get it here
|
| http://www.oldversion.com/
|
|
|
| BTW: even if you do not use Internet Explorer on the machine you should
| install IE6
| then go to the windows update page and install all the critical updates
|

Thanks to Bob, and philo for the additional tips. Much appreciated! :-)

Cheryl