Re: router and firewall?

Daniel Royer wrote:
I just installed a Netopia 3347 router (XP SP2). Do I need a firewall like ZA ?

Daniel


I'd say "Yes," others may disagree.

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. (Remember: Most anti-virus 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

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Security, router vs. software firewall
    ... A NAT router will protect you from most ... A third party software firewall like ZoneAlarm protects you against outgoing ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Norton
    ... > 3rd party software firewall. ... > important element of protecting one's privacy and security. ... > I use both a router with NAT and Sygate Personal Firewall, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Equipment Questions - Modem/Router
    ... I contacted my ISP about my DSL modem/router and about open ports I found in the grc.com scan. ... This is why it's important to use a software firewall on each the the computers connected to the Internet, even by a router with NAT. ... Like WinXP's built-in firewall, NAT-capable routers do nothing to protect the user from him/herself. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • RE: HACKED - redLine - SaCReD =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Seer=A9?= 2006
    ... the only server to have been affected. ... the internet and this is done with the router. ... This is called a DMZ...Why are you recommending him to use NAT? ... malware protection just behind the router so that they also protect the ...
    (microsoft.public.security)
  • Re: Norton Internet Security 2005 Personal Firewall slows down Windows XP startup
    ... >>have a router. ... > that a NAT device will not protect the user from - namely the user. ... they can and do offer an extra layer of protection. ... that and just feel a software firewall is totally not necessary if you ...
    (comp.security.firewalls)
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