Re: Firewall

From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 09/12/04 

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2004 10:33:12 -0600

Brian wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a Linksys router that has a built in
> firewall, which is hardware firewall. Is it necessary to
> install a software firewall?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Brian

    If you use a router with NAT, it's still a very good idea to use a
3rd party software firewall. Like WinXP's built-in firewall,
NAT-capable routers do nothing to protect the user from him/herself
(or any "curious," over-confident teenagers in the home). Again --
and I cannot emphasize this enough -- almost all spyware and many
Trojans and worms are downloaded and installed deliberately (albeit
unknowingly) by the user. So a software firewall, such as Sygate or
ZoneAlarm, that can detect and warn the user of unauthorized out-going
traffic is an important element of protecting one's privacy and
security. Most antivirus applications do not even scan for or protect
you from adware/spyware, because, after all, you've installed them
yourself, so you must want them there, right?

    I use both a router with NAT and Sygate Personal Firewall, even
though I generally know better than to install scumware. When it
comes to computer security and protecting my privacy, I prefer the old
"belt and suspenders" approach. In the professional IT community,
this is also known as a "layered defense." Basically, it comes down
to never, ever "putting all of your eggs in one basket." 

-- 
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Networking XP home & PRO computers w/Linksys Router
    ... It is a firewall that prevents other people from seeing the network. ... I you open (guest account), ... The Linksys router uses NAT to route solicited network traffic to the computer. ... Install a personal firewall on both computers. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Service Pack 1 & 2
    ... but enable to install because of service pack 2. ... >> I recently reinstalled Windows XP home on a new hard disk because the ... >> I tried to install service pack 1 but was rejected from doing so. ... > Why you should use a computer firewall.. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Feedback solicited - best way to harden a mail/web server?
    ... Was the system protected by a properly configured firewall? ... it's not a bad "starting point" and it can generate an IPtables rule ... > nor is there a web or ftp server; aside from that I haven't tried to secure ... Before I'll install some nifty application ...
    (comp.os.linux.security)
  • Re: firewall
    ... thank you very much.i will install either sygate or zone ... >software firewall, such as Sygate or ZoneAlarm, that can ... >applications do not scan for or protect you from ... >> i recently purchased netgear firewall router DG834G.as ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: I THINK I HAVE A VIRUS MY ANTIVIRUS SCAN WONT EVEN RUN
    ... install some thing ells like ez antivirus or antivier both ahve free triles ... > your computer online - meaning you likely have usernames and passwords ... > Why you should use a computer firewall.. ... > The system restore feature is a new one - first appearing in Windows ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
Quantcast