Does the edition of Windows7 effect performance?

[ignatzatsonic]

Yeah, there are things from what I hear. Like at this link. I'm no expert on this, but there are some things in Windows that are supposed to be more exploitable than others. But Windows 7 is supposed to be more secure than earlier versions.

Turn Off Sharing Options In Windows 7 « IT Professionals

And there is the issue of "administrator" accounts.

There are web sites where you can test your "stealthiness". I believe run by Steve Gibson?? But you can find thousands of words on the net about what a fool he is. So.....................??

Here is Gibson's site:

  Home of Gibson Research Corporation  

Look here and at other similar sites:

mechBgon's guide for first-time PC builders... Best practices for ongoing security

 

[logicearth]

Any good router (consumer router). will have a firewall that at its default configuration will block all of Windows SMB (folder sharing for example) ports and connections from the outside world. Those connections will never reach Windows. Pretty much all consumer routers come default in this configuration.

 

[NoN]

You still can disable features when you go in Control Panel=>Program & Features=>(see screenshot) & tutorial: Here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5023-windows-features-turn-off.html?filter[2]=Programs Features Features

Or you would like to Optimize 7 here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[IaskQuestions]

Any good router (consumer router). will have a firewall that at its default configuration will block all of Windows SMB (folder sharing for example) ports and connections from the outside world. Those connections will never reach Windows. Pretty much all consumer routers come default in this configuration.

Yea a physical firewall is always a good thing. I have one but i like to have both Comodo Standalone Firewall running with it. It's a netgear. Know anything about Comodo? I'm thinking it might block these vulnerabilities discussed within this topic automatically.

 

[logicearth]

Yea a physical firewall is always a good thing. I have one but i like to have both Comodo Standalone Firewall running with it. It's a netgear. Know anything about Comodo? I'm thinking it might block these vulnerabilities discussed within this topic automatically.

I don't bother installing a third-party firewall. It is overkill in my opinion. Micromanaging every single outbound connection is just a buzz kill to me. If you are needing such functionality, maybe you should be questioning whether you need that application or not. But the router is already blocking everything request that does not originate from within the network. That is what you mostly need.

Otherwise I just let the Windows firewall handle the rest.

 

[Trucidation]

Just passing through...

I believe run by Steve Gibson?? But you can find thousands of words on the net about what a fool he is. So.....................??

Haters gonna hate.

His articles have always come across to me as detailed and meticulous. Don't need to trust me, go read his stuff on his website. Sure, he comes across as enthusiastic, but I know several teacher/lecturer types who are just like that too. The detractors always seem to fall in either one of these camps: (1) those who scoff at pretty much anything - you know, the typical internet hater with a stick up his ass ("I am always right and everyone else is wrong") or (2) foul-mouthed nutcases who have no business being anywhere near the english language, let alone computer software.

Seriously. If people think someone is wrong then prove it with facts, like "he is wrong about X because you have to consider Y and Z", etc. It's called intelligent discourse. Iirc Gibson's running a fairly popular mailing list, podcasts, etc. I don't think a quack would have lasted as long as he has - and he's still in business. Guess it's just the usual internet tough guys and trolls.

-
...back on topic, no, I agree windows version should have negligible impact on performance. No difference comparing my win7 Pro and Home Prem boxes with similar hardware. I game on this laptop (see specs) and it does pretty well.

 

[IaskQuestions]

Yea a physical firewall is always a good thing. I have one but i like to have both Comodo Standalone Firewall running with it. It's a netgear. Know anything about Comodo? I'm thinking it might block these vulnerabilities discussed within this topic automatically.

I don't bother installing a third-party firewall. It is overkill in my opinion. Micromanaging every single outbound connection is just a buzz kill to me. If you are needing such functionality, maybe you should be questioning whether you need that application or not. But the router is already blocking everything request that does not originate from within the network. That is what you mostly need.

Otherwise I just let the Windows firewall handle the rest.

Considering how detailed you can get with configurations with firewalls like Comodo, do you think it provides just as good security as a router? Only reason i ask is because you say its an overkill, meaning they're both doing the same thing, one you just have to configure to do so...

I would say that software like Comodo wouldn't be as good as a physical router in case your computer gets infected and comodo or your antivirus is compromised in some way, but if your computer is at that point they'd most likely be able to get the default gateway to your router, as well as a logger to get your pass.

So what do you think? Physical Router still better than firewall software??

Of course we're talking security, not the benefits of wireless, etc.

This is almost like how people now a days that use GPS in there home town, Some will never fully understand where or how to get where they're needing to go when they have a program telling them. You will, but not as much so if you paid attention to detail like landmarks, etc. For instance, doing research and knowing which ports and applications to block on your system via your third-party firewall.

Best to to it the hard way and figure the in's and out's i guess. I speculate a lot, sorry.

 

[Solarstarshines]

There is some ram limits between different 64 bit versions home basic 8 gig...home premium 16 gig....pro ultimate 192 gig

Good information from the last 2 replies.

Windows 7 system requirements - Microsoft Windows

They both show ass requiring 2GB of ram. When you say Basic 8gig, Home Premium 16-gig, pro/ultimate 192gig.... your talking about HDD space? I checked here

Windows 7 Home Premium Delivers Entertainment & Added Security

and there are no differences of HDD space unless your downloading it online instead of using the CD, even if your using the 64bit version.

Just trying to clarify what you mean. Or do you mean
.8GB ram for Home Basic?
1.6GB for Home Premium?
1.92 GB for Ultimate?

Thanks for your response.

thats not hard drive space it is the available ram win7 will allow usable 16 gigs is the max ram you can use on home premium you want it to reconize more you have to get a high version of win 7 via ultimate or professional

 

[logicearth]

So what do you think? Physical Router still better than firewall software??

Very much still better. While the software firewall could have more shiny features and doodaads, the fact of the matter is the firewall is located on your computer. By the time the attacker gets to your computer they are already on your network. That is the last thing you want.

The router and its firewall are at the very edge of your network, to get onto your network the attacker must get past this barrier. That is not to say you cannot run a firewall on your computer. But I just don't see the point in running something that is heavy with every feature under the sun when it will hardly ever be used. But to annoy you when an application tries to connect to the internet.

 

[chipaquero]

Hi everybody, this is my newbie-rookie opinion: having 4GB (2+2) RAM and a 1GB RAM PCI-e video card non shared would be far enough to run any game flowlessly no matter what OS version you use, (leaving out Starter, of course) This is my point of view according to my non tech but Windows user experience, what do you think?. Regards.

 

[mikedl]

There is some ram limits between different 64 bit versions home basic 8 gig...home premium 16 gig....pro ultimate 192 gig

Good information from the last 2 replies.

Windows 7 system requirements - Microsoft Windows

They both show ass requiring 2GB of ram. When you say Basic 8gig, Home Premium 16-gig, pro/ultimate 192gig.... your talking about HDD space? I checked here

Windows 7 Home Premium Delivers Entertainment & Added Security

and there are no differences of HDD space unless your downloading it online instead of using the CD, even if your using the 64bit version.

Just trying to clarify what you mean. Or do you mean
.8GB ram for Home Basic?
1.6GB for Home Premium?
1.92 GB for Ultimate?

Thanks for your response.

thats not hard drive space it is the available ram win7 will allow usable 16 gigs is the max ram you can use on home premium you want it to reconize more you have to get a high version of win 7 via ultimate or professional

Um, yeah, Solarstarshines, already covered a few pages ago in this thread.

@IaskQuestions: ... what logicearth said. A properly configured router is much better than loading up on unneeded software firewalls. You got one good one, your good. Too many software firewalls soon become nothing more than unneeded annoyances.

 

[Golden]

@IaskQuestions: ... what logicearth said. A properly configured router is much better than loading up on unneeded software firewalls. You got one good one, your good. Too many software firewalls soon become nothing more than unneeded annoyances.

+1. A software firewall is really a secondary line of defense. Nothing beats a good NAT router.

 

[IaskQuestions]

Thanks guys awesome stuff.