Re: Firewalls and Wireless Routers

From: John Doue (notwobe_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 12/30/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 23:01:59 +0200

Leythos wrote:

> In article <ObBaEDr7EHA.2180@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>,
> davecrispy@hotmail.com says...
>
>>If I have a wireless router installed and working and configured with a WEP
>>firewall.
>>
>>The question is - can I safely stop using the built in firewall with Windows
>>XP Pro SP2 and rely on the one in the router?
>>
>>Seems a bit silly having a firewall in the router and on both the desktop
>>and laptop!
>
>
> If you have a wireless router I would guess that it's not actually got a
> firewall, just NAT, so you don't really have a firewall - none of the
> home user units are really firewalls, just nice little NAT systems.
>
> Since the XP SP2 firewall is really open to being improperly configured
> you're not doing much with it that isn't already being handled by the
> NAT box. If you want to have a firewall, either purchase something like
> the WatchGuard Firebox SOHO unit or install something like ZoneAlarm.
>
One other point in support of this is that SP2 firewall will not control
in any way Internet trafic going OUT of your computer. Your NAT protects
you nicely from incoming unwanted access but does not control what goes
out. There are many reasons you want to keep a very strict control on
what goes out since it is a way to detect trojans and other pests
activity and to keep a lid on those programs that surreptitiously try to
access Internet for various but seldom valid reasons. I see no reason
not to Choose Zonealarm but I would suggest you go for the SE version
that includes AD-Watch even if it costs a few bucks because it does a
good job at detecting attempts to make changes to the various start
sections of the registry.

Regards 

-- 
John Doue

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