AstroSkipper

Your behaviour here is highly questionable and certainly does not inspire confidence. My decisions and actions are exclusively determined by my knowledge and experience. I control and adjust all system and programme services manually as I know what I do and what I have to do. There is no need for such a crappy batch file . This is what I would do with that file: And your lack of objectivity, your provocations and your insinuations show me clearly that you actually have nothing meaningful to say. From now on, I'll try to do this: . Just to not waste my time with such nonsense.

It can be easily checked whether ports are open and have to be closed or not. If a Windows system is well configured and protected properly by the hardware and software firewalls, there is no need to use such tools you recommended. And certainly not tools that were developed for older operating systems than Windows 7.. As I already stated crystal clearly, I do not simply trust but I deeply check . Both my hardware and software firewalls do a good job, and there is no need for such old tools. And there is definitely no need to run an undocumented batch file of dubious origin to disable various services..

The programme LegacyUpdate has been updated and is now available in version 1.9. Changelog from GitHub: Very important is the hint for Windows XP users on their homepage: I'll also update my original post as soon as possible. Cheers, AstroSkipper

@Hackerman Here are two further, more recent SSE alternatives. A Firefox 45 fork: http://o.rthost.win/gpc/files1.rt/firefox-45.9.34-20230930-69f77fc6e-win32-sse.7z and New Moon 27: https://o.rthost.win/palemoon/palemoon-27.10.0.win32-git-20240720-be4fef94e8-xpmod-sse.7z

And if you still need the very old, abandoned Mozilla Firefox 52.9.1 ESR, here is a link: https://web.archive.org/web/20210730234012/https://download-origin.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/tinderbox-builds/mozilla-esr52-win32/1536215521/firefox-52.9.1.en-US.win32.installer.exe Alternatively, one link from the first post still works: http://sdfox7.com/xp/sp3/EOL/firefox-52.9.1.en-US.win32.installer.exe

Great progress! As far as I could see, Mypal 68 runs now more smoothly. Hope you can fix the plugins (flash) issue in the next release.

I don't know as your CPU is very weak. Try the Mypal 68.14.3b SSE release, and you will see whether it works or not. These should be the right ones matching your hardware specs. But it is always a game of trial and error. So, check them! You can't lose anything.

Alternatively, @roytam1's browsers New Moon 28 or Serpent 52. Or the Chromium based browser Thorium.

Mypal 68 is a great browser developed by @feodor2. The most recent version is Mypal 68.14.3b. There is even a special SSE release available. Here is the link: https://codeberg.org/Theodor2/Mypal68/releases/tag/68.14.3b

Hi @xrayer Please provide a YouTube link where you noticed that the ad blocker was detected!

@feodor2 Thank you very much for the new releases, especially for the SSE release! You seem to have fixed the SSL issue when accessing MSFN showing "The connection is not secure" without the green padlock. In Mypal 68.14.3b, it again shows "The connection is secure" and the green padlock. I did only a few tests but thanks so far.

First post updated in terms of Mypal 68's version history. Cheers, AstroSkipper

To be honest, I'm not at all surprised that you have problems with Windows operating systems after reading your posts here on MSFN.

This also does not correspond to the facts. You may use these tools under Windows 7 for whatever strange reasons, but they were not developed for this operating system at all. Ports Off is listed as compatible with Windows 2000, 2003 and XP, Windows Worms Door Cleaner even only as compatible with Windows XP. So, the recommendation should be to use these tools only under Windows XP, under more modern operating systems without any guarantee and with caution. Actually, this topic should have been rather posted in the Windows XP forum if at all. This is what happens when one "decided to throw up a couple of topics on an almost dead forum".

@lll888 In these days, such programmes like Ports Off or Windows Worms Door Cleaner are no longer really necessary as users are usually protected by a hardware firewall in their routers and a software firewall in Windows. Generally, the user should rather first check which ports are closed or not. This could be done, for example, by the (still maintained) Nirsoft tool CurrPorts.

I would never apply such a batch or reg file, especially if offered in the way you did. For me, they are files from dubious sources. This batch file is meant to disable services in Windows offered from a person nobody knows and who does not provide any detailed information about the reasons for the service selection inside this batch file. This is a no-go. Same applies to your recommended utilities. And then someone should also import these registration keys via reg file, again without any information and explanations. Furthermore, you did not provide any links to the homepages of their origin. Only pictures of two utilities. Sorry but ! And all this logically leads to . And by that I mean no trust in such an offer and no trust in their provider. And that's you. Sorry for the bad news!

Comodo Firewall Pro 2.4.18.184 Comodo Firewall Pro has an easy to use and intuitive GUI which is suitable for both advanced and novice users. The selection of wizards make sure novice users will face no difficulties in managing vital security configurations. Advanced users and experts can fine tune Comodo Firewall Pro using its extensive configuration options. Comodo Firewall Pro is now freeware (it comes with lifetime free license on installation itself) and, of course, fully compatible with Windows XP. Features (listed in the manual): Network Protection: Comodo Firewall Pro, although designed for personal use, includes an industrial strength stateful inspection firewall, acting at OSI Layers 2, 3 and 4 to filter incoming and outgoing network traffic. Such an advanced filter keeps track of each and every packet sent/received and performs intelligent analysis on critical protocols such as TCP, UDP, FTP etc. Comodo Firewall Pro also detects and prevents DOS/DDOS attacks including: • SYN/UDP/ICMP Floods, • TCP/UDP Port Scans, Upon facing such an intrusive attack, it switches to an emergency mode by creating some automatic rules and updating its internal states according to the attack behavior, to secure the host against it until the attack ceases. Users will not notice such a change in terms of functionality but will remain protected. Quick Features: • Advanced TCP/UDP/ICMP and IP protocol filtering • IP fragmentation handling • DOS/DDOS resistance and handling • Stateful TCP/UDP Protocol Inspection Application Protection: Although the network protection is adequate to defeat the most of the network based attacks, today’s threats require highly sophisticated application based access filtering mechanisms to enforce true host based security policies. Comodo Firewall Pro provides a powerful application firewall which is one of the best application filters available in the market. Restricting network traffic according to the application which generates it, requires filtering at OSI Layers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Application Filtering: Comodo Firewall Pro provides full control on applications’ networking behaviors. Application firewall can: • Limit applications network access characteristics such as port, protocol and host. • Give users the ability to control number of connections per minute an application can create. Leak Resistance: Unfortunately, malware programs are evolving rapidly. Many of such programs employ very advanced techniques to conceal their malicious activities so that they easily bypass the standard protection mechanism provided by the most personal firewalls. These techniques are commonly known as “leak” techniques. Comodo Firewall Pro passed ALL LEAK TESTS with an outstanding success rate not seen in any other firewalls available. Although passing the known leak tests are often enough to provide you a robust protection, Trojans do not have to limit themselves to these known techniques and they always try to find new ones to cheat the protection mechanism you have. Due to this fact, Comodo developers constantly research to improve our firewall to keep you protected at all times against emerging and unknown threats. Benefits quoted from the homepage: Constantly monitors and defends your PC from internet attacks Free maintenance upgrades Gain complete control over which programs are allowed internet access Stay protected against new threats via automatic online updates Real time traffic monitoring enables you to react instantly to threats and identify bandwidth bottlenecks. Easy to use interface and quick setup No license fee - complete protection at no cost for networks and home users Version history/Release notes: Homepage: https://web.archive.org/web/20070215084752/http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/ Version number: 2.4.18.184 Date of release: 14.02.2007 System requirements: Windows 2000, Windows XP Reviews and tests: https://web.archive.org/web/20070301011725/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C1895%2C1969515%2C00.asp https://web.archive.org/web/20070228161335/http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php https://www.comodo.com/news/press_releases/31-05-07/ Download links: https://web.archive.org/web/20070806133356/http://us2.download.comodo.com/cpf/download/setups/release/CFP_Setup_English_2.4.18.184.exe https://www.filesoul.com/software/Comodo-Internet-Security/Comodo-Firewall-2-4-18-184/ Manual: https://personalfirewall.comodo.com/Comodo_Firewall_Pro_2.4_User_Guide.pdf Screenshots: Comodo Firewall Pro 2.4.18.184 is a very old firewall from 2007. It surely was a good firewall at that time. And maybe, it is even today. A very positive point is that this version is totally unbloated, though. The installer size (English version) is only round about 5 MB. This Comodo Firewall version was very often recommended by users, but it unfortunately lacks modern features as, for example, IP6 support. This feature was only introduced starting with the version Comodo Firewall 5.3.174622.1216 from 2011. That means Comodo Firewall Pro 2.4.18.184 is only an option for those users whose internet provider does not offer or does not use the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). Due to its age, the potential users should carefully test this version in their Windows XP system whether it is still properly working even in these days as no one here reported any detailed test results or current experiences in using it. And as already explained in previous posts, I couldn't test this version, and I won't do it either. Personally, I think this firewall could still be an option in these days, but exclusively for the users of the Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4). If anyone needs the German version of Comodo Firewall Pro 2.4.18.184, please post the request here in the thread! Cheers, AstroSkipper

For users of the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), it would definitely be a loss as the Comodo Firewall 2.4 wouldn't work. In such a case, it would simply become useless and would no longer be an option.

Unfortunately, the very, very old version Comodo Firewall 2.4 from 2007 does not offer all features in comparison with Windows 10 Firewall Control Plus XP from 2016. For example, it lacks IP6 support. This feature was only introduced starting with the version Comodo Firewall 5.3.174622.1216 from 2011. That means Comodo Firewall 2.4 is only an option for those users whose internet provider does not offer or does not use the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). For better overview, I have updated my article about Windows 10 Firewall Control Plus XP in terms of offered features, download links and screenshots.

If you had read my post carefully, you would have noticed that I didn't say that this behaviour seems to be "unique" to my referenced Windows 10 Firewall Control Plus XP. I also used Comodo Firewall in the past. It was and is certainly still a good firewall but Windows 10 Firewall Control Plus XP did all I needed better in a more comfortable way and very low on consuming resources. It's as simple as that. BTW, I will write an article about the standalone Comodo Firewall soon. But testing it in these days must be left to others, as I have already explained in one of my last posts.

One reason I am using Windows 10 Firewall Control Plus XP is that this firewall not only blocks incoming and outgoing connections from programmes, but also from Microsoft's operating system components. This firewall simply blocks everything that the user wants blocked. I used the Avast Premier 2018 firewall myself for a long time, but it kept letting through connections that I hadn't authorised. This prompted me to disable it completely, i.e. not install it in the first place, and replace it with Windows 10 Firewall Control Plus XP. I really don't know why I had these issues with the Avast Premier 2018 firewall. However, I think that firewalls which come with Internet Security packages are not that powerful as single, specialised ones. And Windows 10 Firewall Control Plus XP is very specialised and mighty, especially when it comes to the creation of own rules and zones. Just my opinion based on my experiences I made in the past.

One thing seems to be clear. It's better to have blocked incoming connections, even if suspicious, than outgoing ones. The latter would mean your computer is compromised by malware or other intruders.

I forgot to ask whether your Windows XP computer is part of a network and still other devices are connected to it? Does your router keep logs of all connections?

Ok. In any case, it was an incoming connection at the local port 3389 and blocked by Avast. The corresponding service was disabled by you anyways. And Avast did its job. So, nothing bad could happen. Personally, I always disable all remote features from the very first. To use a properly working firewall which reports all blocked incoming and outgoing connections is mandatory and as we can see necessary and meaningful.

Thanks for your confirmation in terms of the firewall! About Comodo Antivirus, we will see what other users report here.