jmihawkins
05-26-2010, 06:38 PM
I run the Zone Alarm Free firewall. I found myself in the middle of a discussion this weekend on the ZA forum regarding whether to 'block' installed programs from accessing the internet, or to just let them run. The ZA moderator seemed to think I was corrupting ZA (and my entire system), and creating program functionality issues, by blocking selected programs/processes from accessing the 'net, and that I should either remove 'untrusted' programs, or allow everything to 'run at will'. I'd like some feedback....
As an example, the 1st program I launch in the AM is Quickbooks, and it's the last I shutdown. There are 7 entries for Quickbooks/Intuit EXEs in my ZA programs list. I have all of them blocked to disallow internet access. I unblock 1 or 2 them as needed: Updates once or twice a month, Online Help very rarely. I dont see any reason for Intuit to be getting 'Company File Monitor' updates, or run 'Intuit Sync Manager', or know when/where I run a backup, or to otherwise be snooping around my system. While I understand the underlying processes will launch and eat-up system resources, I dont see any reason to allow them to collect and transmit 'private' info several times thru the day, and to utilize my internet bandwidth. I cannot randomly un-install selected QB processes w/o destroying the program functionality.
I block Apple's Bonjour 'service' - I dont need it for any reason at all except under very very limited circumstances, when I unblock it. It has to be installed for certain Itunes and QuickTime functionality (and yes it shows up in TaskManager), but I dont want it collecting and transmitting my system data and using my 'net bandwidth.
Similar issues, altho far more outrageous, with AOL's desktop application. It installs tons of 'crap' EXEs that really arent needed, are mostly just spyware, and will utilize huge amounts of bandwidth. All the bits and pieces have to be installed, but they dont shut down the 'basic' program if they dont get their every-several-minutes of 'net access.
There are a few more, but not worth duplicating the above.
Feedback?? Advice??
As an example, the 1st program I launch in the AM is Quickbooks, and it's the last I shutdown. There are 7 entries for Quickbooks/Intuit EXEs in my ZA programs list. I have all of them blocked to disallow internet access. I unblock 1 or 2 them as needed: Updates once or twice a month, Online Help very rarely. I dont see any reason for Intuit to be getting 'Company File Monitor' updates, or run 'Intuit Sync Manager', or know when/where I run a backup, or to otherwise be snooping around my system. While I understand the underlying processes will launch and eat-up system resources, I dont see any reason to allow them to collect and transmit 'private' info several times thru the day, and to utilize my internet bandwidth. I cannot randomly un-install selected QB processes w/o destroying the program functionality.
I block Apple's Bonjour 'service' - I dont need it for any reason at all except under very very limited circumstances, when I unblock it. It has to be installed for certain Itunes and QuickTime functionality (and yes it shows up in TaskManager), but I dont want it collecting and transmitting my system data and using my 'net bandwidth.
Similar issues, altho far more outrageous, with AOL's desktop application. It installs tons of 'crap' EXEs that really arent needed, are mostly just spyware, and will utilize huge amounts of bandwidth. All the bits and pieces have to be installed, but they dont shut down the 'basic' program if they dont get their every-several-minutes of 'net access.
There are a few more, but not worth duplicating the above.
Feedback?? Advice??