Re: Modem with NAT firewall, do I also need a software firewall?

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:39:13 -0700 (PDT), smlunatick wrote:

On Jul 31, 8:29 pm, Bob Willard <BobwB...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Shenan Stanley wrote:
Mikey wrote:

Recently purchased a Zoom 5660 modem / router.  It has a
Network Address Translation firewall and Stateful Packet
Inspection.  The computer it's installed on also has
Zonealarm (free version) installed.  Is Zonealarm still
neccesary with this modem or can it be uninstalled?

Shenan Stanley wrote:

Zone Alarm was never necessary in truth.

The internal Windows XP Firewall would have given you as much
inbound protection as ZoneAlarm.

My suggestion - save the resources and save your sanity -
disconnect from the Internet, uninstall Zone Alarm, make sure the
Windows XP Firewall is enabled, reconnect to the Internet.

Mikey wrote:

But from what I understand, the Windows XP firewall only blocks
incoming traffic, not outgoing, and ZoneAlarm blocks both.

Bluntly (IMHO):
If you need outgoing protection - you're already messed up.

True enough, but outgoing protection gives you some (relatively) early warning
that your PC has been compromised; without it, you could run for years with
malware phoning home and sending your personal data (e.g., credit card info)
to the Russian Mafia.

And, if you have multiple PCs behind a router, the inbound protection of ZA
(or whatever you like) prevents one compromised PC from spreading its virii
to the other PCs.

I've been using ZAF and ZA$ on my PCs for years.  ZA is far better than
M$'s firewall on XP, and far easier that M$'s firewall on Vista, IMHO.
--
Cheers, Bob

I second that!! ZA (any version) gives you some more measure of
protection for monitoring Internet outgoing activity.

Most 3rd party software (so-called) firewall applications are nothing but
snake oil; They give you a false sense of security!

<snip>
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Modem with NAT firewall, do I also need a software firewall?
    ... Network Address Translation firewall and Stateful Packet ... Zonealarm installed. ... reconnect to the Internet. ... If you need outgoing protection - you're already messed up. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Modem with NAT firewall, do I also need a software firewall?
    ... Zonealarm installed. ... Windows XP Firewall is enabled, ... If you need outgoing protection - you're already messed up. ... install from that hardware installation cd-ROM, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Zone Alarm - firewalls
    ... The system protection does not have to have failed for a trojan to enter ... that would allow it to take control of the firewall. ... If you're happy with za outgoing protection then stick with it. ...
    (alt.comp.anti-virus)
  • Re: home network on office computer w/d...
    ... >>>The firewall did not show any blocked messages when I had posted my ... >>>desktop (ZoneAlarm has blocked access to the NetBIOS.... ... WEP is simply not adequate protection. ... Do yourself a favour, and register before posting. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: whats the point of windows firewall?
    ... "Now - just to get some sort of balance - maybe it's time to also read some more critical stuff like this:" ... something is tring to access the internet etc, yet windows firewall which i used to have never asked me anything, and when i did a leak test on it the leak test said i didnt have a firewall running, whereas my zone alarm blocks it??? ... What WinXP SP2's firewall does not do, is provide an important additional layer of protection by informing you about any Trojans or spyware that you might download and install inadvertently. ... ZoneAlarm or Kerio are much better than WinXP's built-in firewall, in that they do provide that extra layer of protection, are much more easily configured, and have free versions readily available for downloading. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)