Several weeks ago there was a discussion about the necessity to keep an AV active while flying with FS. The general idea was that it is not necessary to have AV active if FS was used off line or if the only connection was with the weather updates.And I tended to agree.Well let me tell you what happened yesterday evening.First the last AV scan was done last Friday evening with the latest Norton update. Yesterday evening after shutting down all applications and ADSL connection, I played a Pinball game from MS.At the end of the game during close down of the game I got a Norton message that it intercepted the "Backdoor Blarul" virus and had neutralized it. This with the same software update from last Wednesday.So what is going on? Norton bug? I do not beleive it nor do I reject this possibility. A virus waiting to start? Then what about the last scan and the fact that AV is always on except for ONE FS game on Monday.So now for my peace of mind AV is ALWAYS active even if I am flying only with FS and activesky.Roger

I recently reformatted my HD and re-installed XP Pro. As soon as I had done this, and before I did anything else, I registered it at Microsoft and got the blaster worm.Go figure ....David

Are you guys running a firewall? I assume no, since the backdoor virus will infect unpatched XP (and older OS) machines if there is no firewall running.This is true especially for a a new XP installation. XP does not automatically enable the software firewall (it will in SP2), so as soon as you connect to the internet and you aren't running a firewall you could get infected.When I voice my opinion of not running AV software, I said this knowing that I sit behind a hardware firewall built into my Dlink router that connects me to the internet.On a further note, there are a number of AVSim.com users out there with infections judging by the sheer number of infected emails received to avsim.com email addresses. I don't know who you guys are, but I get really worried when I see these, and it is several a day.

Ken, I think you can help me. I'm trying to start multiplayer in FS2002 on a client pc which is connecnted to Internet via LAN to gateway pc (LAN Internet). There's a firwall (or proxy) named Gateway running on the gateway. Could you please advise which particular settings (ports, protocols, etc.) are required for FS2002 Multiplayer to be opened in the firewall on the gateway [email protected]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;823630

I do not run Norton Anti virus auto protect ever. However, I have my download manager (Download Accelerator) connected to it so that all downloaded files automatically get scanned.Also, I keep Norton Internet Security on at all times even when playing FS. Its constantly intercepting the Backdoor SubSeven Trojan. Research has shown that this worm isn't that serious, but I'm not taking any chances.By default, my processes are 14 and increases to 18 (causing an increase in memory usage as well) when Norton Internet Security is running. This affects performance in FS a little, but I'd rather lose a couple of FPS than get my hard drive wiped clean.A hardware firewall like the one Ken has is probably better for performance of FS. But make sure you have one of them. I think it uses less resources than running the Antivirus program itself.

>I'd rather lose a couple of FPS than get my hard drive>wiped clean.>Serious question. Just out of curiosity, has anybody actually had their hard drive wiped clean by a virus?Victor

Actually if you check Norton's website for that virus you would see there was a problem with their program generating a false positive. Make sure you have the most current virus definitions dated as of Feb 24 to get rid of any false positives for that Trojan. I say this because Norton was saying I had it after I installed the P2P program Overnet. It was weird because I had the program scanned before I installed it and no virus (but it does download components) and there was no warnings after it was installed either...It was only sometime later that Norton started complaining and deleted "overnet.exe", claiming it was the Backdoor.Blarul. Naturally I was concerned. So I checked on Norton's site for this virus and saw the message about the false positives. Updated my definitions and rescanned overnet and it nolonger registers as the virus.Hope that helps.

As Ken says, get a firewall. Nobody should ever connect a computer to the Internet these days without a firewall. If you leave your firewall running, and have it set up correctly, you don't have to worry about temporarily turning off anti-virus. I personally use Symantec's Personal Firewall, and I can't even stand to look at the logs anymore. The amount of garbage floating around the Internet is scary. My PC on my cable modem gets attacked almost constantly.

OK, here are my 2 cents about AV...What I've experienced was that if I install XP SP1 (installation with SP1 integrated), and keep my cable modem connection open, I will get infected with the virus in less than 5 minutes (probability = 99%). Meaning that, while installing, I have to turn off my internet connection on the cable modem, to prevent anything coming to the computer, and after installation, first installation to do, is a firewall. After it's up, you are secure. Update windows, install Service Pack, updates etc... Don't even need AV for flying - I mean, why even? Are you downloading anything while flying? Don't think so :)

FYI: you can get those routers for your cable modem/DSL line for like $20-$40 now...and very good investment in security IMHO even if you only have one computer.My Dlink is wireless, and I have 2 wireless computers and one wired computer plus my Vonage internet telephone device plugged into it. Very easy to setup and works great. I got it from Best Buy for pratically free after instant rebates :-)

The only thing people would be downloading is weather information. This information is text information, not script or executables. Therefore, I don't think it is possible to get infected this way. So, I don't think you have to run antivirus software when using MSFS...BUT you NEED to run some kind of firewall (software or hardware) at all times when connected to the internet, even if you are using a 56K modem!!!!!

Please take the time and visit this site page that I have quoted:http://www.computercops.biz/article-4850--0-0.htmlFurther discussion of this backdoor.blarul is conducted at this site via a forum. It would seem that those who have been infected, or whose Norton AV has detected this trojan, all got it around the same time, and shortly after having updated Norton.It might be an idea to visit Symantec's site in the next while as I'm sure they're going to have something to say about it.There is also discussion from some that Edonkey and / or Reason may be involved. These are P2P file share programs.....which, of course, present hazards anyway!

I second that...I also have ZoneAlarm running all the time. I would like to get a router with a hardware firewall though, so that I can free-up whatever resources ZoneAlarm uses

Seriously. I have an active FTP server on my PC at work. A constant - and I mean CONSTANT - stream of port scans and anonymous connection attempts. It's like there's an army of robotic bandwidth pirates out there...Happy to have my FS PC on dialup - for now!Best,sg