firewall apps anti-spam Checkers for CE

[Thequeerone]

Having spent the day sorting out WEP's (only 1 is needed for multiple devices - no sniggering Coach ) I need an anti-virus app for a mini - pda type thing running Windows CE - any suggestions would be appreciated

[Darren]

You'll be pretty safe actually - CE isn't really a target of virus writers. CHeck here: http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/faqs/virus.htm

[Thequeerone]

Too Kool - wot about firewalls etc... - Like accessing TAB/ Bank Account things - I was under the allusion that firewalls were there to protect you from the Hacker thing - however am guessing as they cannot load a Trojan then this does not occur - or am I missing a couple of umlots here too.

Also on the subject of Wireless networks etc.. is the administrator supposed to change the WEP key periodically - can just imagine the dinner table if I tell em it's going to WEP 6 tomorrow

[blueandblack]

Anything from M$ is a target, even CE.


You can keep WEP SSID as long as you like. Preferably use WPA instead though. WEP is easy to crack, so I hear.

[GIGS20]

WPA II

You probably won't bother changing your passkey anyway, you'd better make sure it's encrypted as strongly as humanly possible

[Darren]

WEP can be cracked with "relative" ease by someone who really wants to crack, assuming they have the right software and preferably 2 computers and are actually targeting you. Otherwise, I wouldn't get too tense about it - just be mindful of it.

Same goes for a virus scanner and firewall - chances of getting a CE virus is remote, chances of someone breaching your router and getting to your CE device is remote also - as are the chances of ytou getting a trojan which may circumvent a firewall which restricts outbound traffic.

Given you have a CE device, exercise caution (as you always should even on a desktop with all the latest and greatest software) and you'll be likely right.


If you can do WPA2 encryption - do it, if you can't - don't sweat it. Same as if you can easy get a firewall/virus scanner which doesn't slow your machine down to crawl, do it.

Personally I wouldn't bother (as a matter of fact, I don't bother - I have a Windows CE phone). Just be ready to lose all data etc and start from a factory install (ie. backup up important stuff) - you don't need a virus/trojan/hacker for this to happen!

[Thequeerone]

Thanks guys - at the risk of sounding like a complete Moron - because the CE device is behind a WEP modem - my chances of getting hacked is remote - if it was behind a WPAII modem then the chances would be even less - sorry if I appear to be repeating but am really trying hard to understand all of this stuff

Again many thanks

[Darren]

That would be right. However, people usually get hacked by downloading and installing a dodgy piece of software (usually pirated) which gives hackers a backdoor into your system - however, this is a pretty remote likelihood with a CE device

[Thequeerone]

When I was a lass I used lap this stuff up - now with all this flexibility it has become increbibly painful to do anything - Dos at least gave you the ability to understand what you did not know as opposed to not understanding your ability to do anything