How many firewalls do I need? Forums

bodgerco

I am a bit puzzled. When I had a wired broadband modem I installed Zonealarm because I was told that the Windows XP firewall was not great.

Now I am told that the XP firewall is better but should I risk it and turn Zone Alarm off?

Now I have a wireless router and modem, the literature says that it has it's own 'built in' firewall. Does this mean it can be used without any further software firewall?

Do I need all three?

If I changed to Vista would the Windows Firewall be better and negate the need for Zonealarm anyway?

Roy

ActiveCampers

Define better!
Define what you actually want to do.

If you are just "surfing" and usuaul stuff - XP (sp2/3) firewall is fine. If you are "Hosting" on your PC you may need something better. Zonealarm is good, informative etc, but I would not recommed or use it generally - built in is fine.

If you have a hardware firewall/router - then this alone is fine - as long as your wifi is secured. (if wifi is not secure (e.g. open) then someone else connecting to wifi can access your other devices. By access I do not mean simply gain access to data - but at least connect/try).

Note though, if you take your laptop out and use other internet/wifi then you need to turn firewall on.

In corporate envs, you just have main firewall and not local client firewalls.

Vista firewall is a little bettter featured and works out (guesses!) where you are - so on my home wifi firewalls off, and as soon as I connect elsewhere, firewall automatically on.

Hope this helps

(Techie IT infrastrucure manager)

bodgerco

Thanks for that. My needs are quite simple - just normal browsing and I do understand the need to make my laptop secure if I take it away in the van.

So if I understand correctly, the Wireless router built in Firewall is perfectly OK on it's own but when I take the laptop out I just turn the Windows Firewall on.

I can therefore ditch Zonealarm completely.

As it happens when we are away in the van I simply use a Smartphone ( HTC TyTn2) for all email and what limited browsing i do on tour.

Thanks a lot.

Roy

Chigman

oldenstar

I have used various firewalls in the past.

However since having Vista I do not use any other stand-alone firewall, as I find the Vista firewall seems to do the trick. I make sure that all file sharing is turned off, test the system frequently using the 'Shields Up' site, and it seems I am safe. (Hopefully).

However I do use PC Tools Spyware Doctor for both spyware and antivirus.
HTH
Paul

Rislar

I agree with activecampers, and i also run AVG anti virus, works a treat Smile

JQL

I am of the opinion that ZoneAlarm is too complex and confusing.

ZoneAlarm also asks questions that mere motals (rather than IT gurus) have absolutely no chance of guessing the right answer and getting it wrong could have very bad consequences.

If you are using a modem to access to internet then use something like ZoneAlarm or a better product and lock it down very tightly.

If you are using a Broadband (ADSL) Router (wireless or wired) then you can, in most circumstances, use the Windows (XP/Vista) built in firewall along with the hardware firewall and NAT translation of the router.

It all depends on how you configure and use your complete computer system.

JQL

I forgot to mention that a Firewall is a must! Without one you will get infected.

I did a test about 18 months ago. I attached a computer without a firewall or antivirus to the internet (it only had a method of logging intusions). It took just less than 5 seconds from connection before it was infected. I would imagine that now it could be less than a second.

Any firewall is better than none.

Remember, if you're going to drink from a cess pool you're going to get infected. The same applies to the sites that you visit.