File Rating and Firewall

[englishgirls]

I have problems with file ratings.  It doesn't work.  I read all the threads but could not solve the problem.  I have just installed 1.4.9.  I am using Norton Internet Security.  When I disabled the firewall, the voting worked perfect in any mode.  Any ideas of why this is so and how to enable the firewall and still use the voting system.

My gallery is at http://www.englishgirls.co.uk/gallery/

Thanks Barry

[Nibbler]

Norton is notorious for breaking things. Stop using it.

[englishgirls]

Thanks for your advice but i would never disable my firewall permanently.  I have an always on connection.  I shudder to think how many people would break in.  Furthermore, lots of other people use Norton who will not be able to access the voting system.  Surely the solution should be to fix the problem rather than just stop using it.

Barry

[Nibbler]

If you let me know what is so insecure about the file rating feature  then I will be keen to fix it. I'm not suggesting that you run your PC with no firewall, just that you use software that does not interfere with what you want to do. Check if Norton is messing with either cookies or your referrer data. A real firewall has no business messing with either.

[Joachim Müller]

To add what Nibbler suggested: running a personal firewall is fine if this gives you a sense of security. However, Norton Internet Security is not a personal firewall app, but a bundle of badly-integrated apps that interfere where it shouldn't. If you want real security, do the following:

• Get a "real" firewall (in hardware). Most routers come with a firewall that is much better than what a Windows-driven application could possibly do
• Get a "real" virus scanner - one that does what a virus scanner is suppossed to do: scan for viruses. A virus scanner is for example not suppossed to interfere with cookies. Cookies won't harm you. Most browsers come with efficient methods to handle cookies anyway. Examples for good virus scanner vendors are imo: TrendMicro, Bitdefender, Avira, NOD. Bad examples are imo: Norton (Symantec), CA's eTrust. I'm sure there are other good products as well - I just don't know them.
• Use a "good" (secure) browser.
• Don't use an admin account to surf the internet. Use a restricted user account instead.
• Don't install every piece of software that you find on the internet.

You'll notice that I won't participate in the usual geekish Windows-bashing and "use Linux" propaganda. However: personal firewall apps on Windows desktop are crap, just because of the concept: malware can still easily mess with your PC, and you can either set the app to be super-secure (but this will render your PC useless, because you'll be prompted for decisions wether to allow actions that regular users simply can't decide about) or useless (because the firewall will allow all potentially malicious traffic anyway).

Please understand that I'm not trying to be difficult, just my 2 c. I know what I'm speaking about.

Joachim