<snip>
As far as I know I have Windows firewall. I appear to be updated BUT for some reason the Windows xp SP3 will not fully update..........microsoft trying to help me with this.............unsuccessfuly so far.............they say it should not affect anything.
I also have windows vista, same wireless connection and am free from these DCOM message.
You're welcome.
Personally the windows XP firewall provides limited protection (but it should be able to cope this these DCOM ones) as it doesn't have outbound protection. Vista's firewall does, but it is disabled by default and when enabled isn't very friendly.
Whilst the windows XP (and Vista) firewall is usually good at keeping your ports stealthed (hidden) it provides no outbound protection and you should consider a third party firewall.
Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (sensitive or otherwise, user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so outbound protection is essential.
- There are many freeware firewalls such as, Comodo (care required now it is a suite not to install the anti-virus element), PCTools Firewall Plus, Jetico, etc. - Zone Alarm free works fine with avast and has a reasonably friendly user interface, however, the free version is becoming bloated with trial ware and is also crippled as far as outbound protection goes In the Program Control, configuration area, the slider will only goes as far as Medium protection, if you want more you have to buy the Pro version.
See A Forum discussion on free firewalls
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30808.0See
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php.
####
- You could also enable the outbound protection of the Vista firewall, but it isn't very friendly, is rule based and you have to create the rules, check this out. - Vista Firewall Control, check out this topic for some user friendly help for the Vista Firewall, Outbound protection,
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30234.0