cannot login to steam, issue with firewall

Discussion in 'Windows XP Help and Support' started by bread, Nov 29, 2022.

  1. bread

    bread

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    So I've used private firewall in the past and it works, but it eats up so much memory, slows the computer down alot. Anyone know any free alternatives to a firewall that can give me access to the modern web. I know this is the issue I'm having with steam because it used to work, but now I'm stuck on the "logging in" screen.

    I just dont feel like paying for like 360 total security or anything because I dont use this pc often
     
    bread, Nov 29, 2022
    #1
  2. bread

    Mr Siamese Cat

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    Yes I can suggest the perfect answer. Get a real Firewall that that takes no system resources whatsoever. Hardware Firewalls are available on ebay for as little, as £5 in the UK. You don’t need to pay a subscription, but best of all they actually work unlike the laughable software garbage that does nothing.

    Look for Draytec, SonicWall and Watchguard. Symantec do quite good ones too. If you are in the UK I have a Symantec Gateway 320 you can have for free brand new (It’s a nice FireWall for people using their first actual firewall, because blocking URL’s is really easy.)

    You are lucky to use XP. Windows 10 and Defender block nothing whatsoever and allows everyone access to your computer. With Windows 10 you definitely need a hardware Firewall.
     
    Mr Siamese Cat, Nov 29, 2022
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    bread likes this.
  3. bread

    bread

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    this xp build is definitely a for fun project, id love to take it off your hands shoot me a dm, maybe you can inform me how it works too! always willing to learn
     
    bread, Nov 30, 2022
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  4. bread

    Mr Siamese Cat

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    I have provided you my email in private messages. Feel free to contact me if you think you are able to pick up.

    If you are in the UK you can arrange to pick up from my house. I am in the Peak District. I am happy to explain how to use and happily give you for free. When I worked I always bought 3 of anything important and as these things seem to last forever, I still have a brand new spare and the active 360 Gateway I use. (360 is the same as the 320, but is also a load balancer for when you have 2 phone lines and 2 ISP’s. I use front end Firewalls facing ISP’s and these are my LAN facing choice connecting to these.

    Decide if petrol and travel is worth it, over buying dirt cheap Draytek on ebay.

    The best hardware firewall you can have is actually downloadable, yes I know that sounds odd. It is called pfSense. You install it on an old laptop and run from an SD card. You will omly need to purchase a 1gb to usb network device (about £5 on ebay) that’s because you obviously need 2 network connections for a FireWall. One in and one out. More support for pfSense than any other Firewall out there – Google pfSense and check out on Youtube.Don't just take my word for it.
     
    Mr Siamese Cat, Nov 30, 2022
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  5. bread

    bread

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    so i live in the US hahaha, im sure shipping price is gonna be a little expensive
     
    bread, Nov 30, 2022
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  6. bread

    Mr Siamese Cat

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    Well, that’s why I have my location on my profile. Other people from the Forum who are in UK have popped over if they are within a reasonable distance. I’ve ended up having Sunday lunch at Madeleines and her husbands and we met through the Forum.

    However, in your case I suggest you find something cheap on ebay, for instance Draytek are cheap here. Then check you can download the manual and see how supported the Firewall you are buying is. Or go the pfSense route.
     
    Mr Siamese Cat, Nov 30, 2022
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  7. bread

    bread

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    well regardless I appreciate the kind gesture. But anyway,

    So how does a hardware firewall differ from a software one? Im not talking about pros and cons, I am more referring to how does it physically work? How does it know what to block, how to protect, etc.
     
    bread, Nov 30, 2022
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  8. bread

    Mr Siamese Cat

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    A hardware FireWall is basically a small computer. It is told what to block and how to by it’s firmware or software. I cannot do the description justice compared to Wiki or the literally thousand of sites and youtube video’s that explain it in detail.

    But regarding the point I made, about software Firewall’s being a joke. Well the entire computing industry agrees, that’s why billions are spent on hardware every year and why there are so many cheap ones on ebay. For instance “Windows Defender” ignores the “Hosts” file for some sites, so deliberately allowing a back door into your system.

    Here is a snapshot of a (With Multiples edited out) Syslog file from a Windows 10 machine with enterprise level anti-virus and all security activated including up to date “Windows Defender” As an aside the “Host’s” file was over 4000 entries long.

    A Syslog file is what a firewall can send to a syslog server.

    192.168.50.1 is the firewall and 192.168.50.4 is a windows 10 machine. This is the Windows 10 machine trying to chirp back to the mothership. Complaing that I am a harsh master and they will have to watch this one more carefully.

    Mon Nov 28 11:25:42 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Block host "64BITWIN10" internet access - Source=192.168.50.4 - Destination=104.18.17.107:443 - UDP, Group 2


    Mon Nov 28 11:26:07 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url a1887.dscq.akamai.net due to content filter policy violation


    Mon Nov 28 11:29:17 2022;192.168.50.1; <132>Blocked by Inbound Rules - src_ip=0.0.0.0:68 - dst_ip=255.255.255.255:67 - UDP


    Mon Nov 28 11:40:46 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url a1887.dscq.akamai.net due to content filter policy violation


    Mon Nov 28 11:42:05 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Block host "64BITWIN10" internet access - Source=192.168.50.4 - Destination=142.250.200.35:443 - UDP, Group 2


    Mon Nov 28 11:43:09 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url securepubads.g.doubleclick.net due to content filter policy violation


    Mon Nov 28 11:43:09 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Block host "64BITWIN10" internet access - Source=192.168.50.4 - Destination=172.67.183.12:443 - UDP, Group 2


    Mon Nov 28 11:43:09 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url a1887.dscq.akamai.net due to content filter policy violation


    Mon Nov 28 11:43:18 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Block host "64BITWIN10" internet access - Source=192.168.50.4 - Destination=172.67.183.12:443 - UDP, Group 2


    Mon Nov 28 11:48:47 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url browser.events.data.microsoft.com due to content filter policy violation


    Mon Nov 28 11:48:54 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Block host "64BITWIN10" internet access - Source=192.168.50.4 - Destination=40.99.151.130:443 - UDP, Group 2


    Mon Nov 28 11:49:00 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url csp.microsoft.com due to content filter policy violation


    Mon Nov 28 11:49:00 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url acdn.adnxs.com due to content filter policy violation


    Mon Nov 28 11:49:01 2022;192.168.50.1; <134>Access denied for client 192.168.50.4 to url eu-office.events.data.microsoft.com due to content filter policy violation


    In reality there were nearly 1000 entries here in a 25 minute period, but I auto edit out with scripts and Macro’s, so I can see what is happening regarding the stuff I am interested in. All you need to know is that these destinations were blocked in the “Hosts” file and therefore the “Windows Defender” FireWall. However Windows 10 let them through like a “traitor”

    But the Hardware Firewall that Microsoft has no control over really does block them.

    So to be honest you have a lot reading and video watching to do. Not, because I am dismissive, but simply some really talented people have put together comprehensive easy to understand explanations on Youtube and the Web in general, that I could not attempt to come close too.
     
    Mr Siamese Cat, Nov 30, 2022
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  9. bread

    bread

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    so basically its an advanced hosts file, blocking ips from transmitting data and it knows by I guess "computer knowledge stuff" what and what not to block, it can detect malicious stuff.

    Ill look into some youtube videos about it as well, does it stay up to date? Or do you have to update it yourself, like a database
     
    bread, Nov 30, 2022
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  10. bread

    Mr Siamese Cat

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    Far more than an advanced Hosts file. It can be set to block everything. A software firewall and Hosts file is like protecting your house from a robbery by having stop signs inside the house along with a safe room. A hardware Firewall is like a castle with a moat. Nothings getting in unless you expressly say so, always by an outbound fetch command.

    You list the URL’s that it may never be allowed to be visited and nothing goes there. It also blocks all sorts of inbound hacking attacks and things like Ping of doom.

    I find it funny that people worry about security when most people’s routers that are from their ISP will even allow Telnet. Basically, most people’s ISP’s can happily browse their computer. By law anyway they store all the meta data of every site you visit.

    Virtually all Firewalls can be updated. It depends how complex you want to go. As I have explained pfSense is free and state of the art. However you will need to supply a laptop for it to run on.

    It would take you seconds to find this documentation.

    https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/

    https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...0Edition.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3t4uqcxVkxPi0FArxcm9v-
     
    Mr Siamese Cat, Nov 30, 2022
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