# MSN Messenger and Zonealarm **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184 "2003-01-02T10:44:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/1 "2003-01-02T10:44:33Z")
I got a WebCam for christmas! My brother got it so we can video chat. Problem is, in order to use MSN Messenger 4.7 (with WinXP)'s video chat facility, I have to disable my ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall. Does anyone know how I can configure ZA to let the video through? At the moment, messenger has full access (server and client) to all ports. Any ideas? Oh, the webcam is a logitech quickcam messenger (not that that should make any difference) ---
**Author:** ![Trader\_of\_shorts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@Trader\_of\_shorts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trader_of_shorts)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/2 "2003-01-02T10:50:38Z")
_tech hat_ XP and ZA are bad for each other… strongly advise against running this combination. Secondly How do you know it is YOUR firewall that is the problem and not a possible firewall on the other end. Firewalls are usually smart enough to figure things out if both parties are running the same ones. /tech ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/3 "2003-01-02T10:53:58Z")
Also, don’t forget that XP has it’s own built-in firewall (the effectiveness of which is for another thread). I’d bet a few bucks on MSN Messenger working with MS’s firewall, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Trader\_of\_shorts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@Trader\_of\_shorts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trader_of_shorts)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/4 "2003-01-02T11:00:40Z")
I have never been able to get webcam and messenger working … ever . Regardless of firewalls. Try Yahoo messenger ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/5 "2003-01-02T11:08:07Z")
**Trader** - I know it’s my firewall, because everything works fine when I turn it off! What would you reccomend as an alternative firewall? The reason I use MSN is because everyone I want to chat to uses MSN - and I’m not even going to try and explain to my mother how to change her setup to Yahoo. **Zagadka** - Yes, it works fine if I leave XP’s firewall on, but turn off ZA. So at least I have some level of protection while chatting (though as you say, this may be a discussion for elsewhere) ---
**Author:** ![Trader\_of\_shorts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@Trader\_of\_shorts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trader_of_shorts)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/6 "2003-01-02T11:30:34Z")
ShadowWarrior _Tech_ I recomend Nortons or Mcafee /tech I have not and will not ever use a firewall. They just cause many issues. /rant For you to resolve this issue you will need to find out what port the web cam is using through MSN Maybe running dos\> Netstat -a while chatting and then dos\>Netstat -a When web camming to find out which port it is on. The enable that particular port through ZA (no idea how you do this) But thats what i would do. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/7 "2003-01-02T11:42:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trader\_of\_shorts \* > \*\*ShadowWarrior > > For you to resolve this issue you will need to find out what port the web cam is using through MSN > \*\* unfortunately I have already looked into this - messenger is set up to have access to ALL ports, so it’s not that. ☹ What internet access method do you use? my firewall reports a large number of possible intrusions (and it distinguishes between harmless and harmful attempts) and as my cable gives an ‘always on’ connection, I’m not at all happy about leaving it unprotected. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/8 "2003-01-02T11:52:12Z")
**ShadowWarrior** , Set your ZoneAlarm security slider to **medium** , make sure that Messenger has access and server rights. ---
**Author:** ![Trader\_of\_shorts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@Trader\_of\_shorts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trader_of_shorts)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/9 "2003-01-02T12:00:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShadowWarrior \* > \*\*unfortunately I have already looked into this - messenger is set up to have access to ALL ports, so it’s not that. ☹ > > \*\* Messenger prolyl requires a lot of port BUT the cam will only require 1. I do not see why it would requie multiple ports for the one service. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/10 "2003-01-03T05:00:08Z")
Just want to correct some bad information. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trader\_of\_shorts \* > \*\*XP and ZA are bad for each other… \*\* No they aren’t. > [@](#): > > **Firewalls are usually smart enough to figure things out if both parties are running the same ones.** No they aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/11 "2003-01-03T05:19:30Z")
Do you use a natbox/router like the linksys or netgear? For Zone Alarm, if you know your brothers IP address, you can add it to your ‘local zone’ settings. I agree with Joey G. Always use a firewall with broadband. Zone Alarm FREE is a wonderful product, and PRO is more than worth the cost. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/12 "2003-01-03T09:03:55Z")
I could put my brother’s IP addy into ZA, I guess, but unfortunately it isn’t a permanent IP, and changes every so often. I tried re-setting my security settings to medium but haven’t actually been able to test it yet as brother didn’t go online last night ☹ will let you know how it goes ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/13 "2003-01-18T06:59:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShadowWarrior \* > \*\*will let you know how it goes \*\* Had any luck? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/14 "2003-01-20T09:19:52Z")
whoops - forgot all about this thread - thanks Joey G, setting the internet security to medium worked perfectly. Any time you’re in the chessington area, I’ll gladly buy you a pint! ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/15 "2003-01-20T21:13:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShadowWarrior \* > \*\*whoops - forgot all about this thread - thanks Joey G, setting the internet security to medium worked perfectly. \*\*Ah, glad to hear it. > [@](#): > > \*\* Any time you’re in the chessington area, I’ll gladly buy you a pint! \*\* Mmmmm… Beer. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msn-messenger-and-zonealarm/146184/16 "2003-01-21T11:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joey G \* > \*\*\*\*Ah, glad to hear it.Mmmmm… Beer. \*\* did I mention beer? only kidding 😃