Zone Alarm and MSN/Windows Messenger

Hi All,

I just need a little assistance with a reliable configuration for permitting 2-way voice and video with MSN/Windows Messenger under a Zone Alarm protected environment.

Looking at most of the technical resources, it seems that a HUGE port range set needs to be opened on both the TCP and UDP side which, I fear, defeats the purpose of running Zone Alarm in the first place.

(i.e. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...fw/default.asp )

In summary, this document suggests opening the following ports both ways for full file transfer, assistance, voicing and video:

5004 to 8211; 65535 (UDP)
1503 (TCP)
6891 to 6900 (TCP)
3389 (TCP - Yuk... opening this exposes Remote Desktops too)

Cany anyone suggest a streamlined configuration, or even better, a better more reliable firewall than Zone ?


Thanks.

Froggie™

I´ve been looking all over the place to find an answer to your exact question.

The thing is that, theoretically it should work by opening all those ports that you mentioned but only for the program, i.e. for Messenger only.

If you have to open all those ports for the Firewall Configuration in general, then why the hell use a firewall in the first place, no.

So far, I´ve been trying like crazy to find a way to solve this issue but so far it seems that the only way around it is to close Zone Alarm when you want to talk and then enable it again.

If you find out a way, please let me know.

Best of Luck

when you try to use messenger's voice comms doesn't it popup alerts on MSN so that you can open them on the fly?

i don't use windows firewalls anymore (got a linux box acting as a gateway), but just looking around here is another freeware firewall

http://soho.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

im using Tiny Personal Firewall
for me, it is easier than ZoneAlarm

but you have to pay for it

im running two software firewalls with a hardware one at the sametime
router has one in it
act as a port blocker and minimal screening

the PC-Cillin 2003 anti-virus software has its software firewall as well and it isnt bad!

so far, ive been using voice and video just fine