FireWall
- Thread starter Cuthrose
- Start date
any version of linux will have one, we use suse here but they are pretty much the same just different software installed.
It will mean installing a second network card in and configuring it all, but it is free.
If you're not happy with the built in XP/Vista/7 firewall then I'd probably recomend getting semantic (Norton) as that has a firewall but it's 30-50 pounds I think.
It will mean installing a second network card in and configuring it all, but it is free.
If you're not happy with the built in XP/Vista/7 firewall then I'd probably recomend getting semantic (Norton) as that has a firewall but it's 30-50 pounds I think.
Agravaine
Professional Slacker
Zed
Rogue Chimp
#Zone alarm is owned by Checkpoint. Apparently they did it to try to get people to buy a full version of the product (if its the scare im thinking of). Major no-no.
you dont need a PfW if your router is set up and doing its job properly and if it is then the PfW built into windows 7 would be adequate for what you need and just as good these days as any of the other free pfw's. If you want something more complete to protect bank information and phishing etc then your going to need to actually buy a product ~(Kasperky would be a good one~)
you dont need a PfW if your router is set up and doing its job properly and if it is then the PfW built into windows 7 would be adequate for what you need and just as good these days as any of the other free pfw's. If you want something more complete to protect bank information and phishing etc then your going to need to actually buy a product ~(Kasperky would be a good one~)
Artanix
Full Member
why exactly do you want a firewall? In all honesty, they're nigh on pointless for normal users.
Granted, I work for a private network ISP and the lark, but i've never had a firewall (apart from default settings on a router). and never had any issues. My dad's computer had zonealarm (ages ago), and it did nothing but kick up a fuss about things being blocked, even though nothing was wrong. (false state of security).
Software firewalls (unless setup properly) are practically useless, they're dead good at blocking programs you want to use, don't really have much of an effect on spyware (it'll still be on your computer, whether it can get to the internet or not), and wont pose more than a 30 second challenge to anybody who actually wants to hack your computer.
Free virus programs like AVG and adaware are much better for stuff. But again, it begs the question why do you want a firewall?
Granted, I work for a private network ISP and the lark, but i've never had a firewall (apart from default settings on a router). and never had any issues. My dad's computer had zonealarm (ages ago), and it did nothing but kick up a fuss about things being blocked, even though nothing was wrong. (false state of security).
Software firewalls (unless setup properly) are practically useless, they're dead good at blocking programs you want to use, don't really have much of an effect on spyware (it'll still be on your computer, whether it can get to the internet or not), and wont pose more than a 30 second challenge to anybody who actually wants to hack your computer.
Free virus programs like AVG and adaware are much better for stuff. But again, it begs the question why do you want a firewall?
Tempy
Mutley !!
Basically, its on unless you turn it off (or create some rules that negate its effect).
Anyway, all a firewall will essentially do is prevent unwanted programs accessing your pc from the WAN port (the internet). Any malicious program running on your pc will have free access to the internet as outbound packets are generally classed as being legit (its called statefull packet inspection). It's not a magical barrier that will prevent your pc getting compromised, you need good AV software for this.
Anyway, all a firewall will essentially do is prevent unwanted programs accessing your pc from the WAN port (the internet). Any malicious program running on your pc will have free access to the internet as outbound packets are generally classed as being legit (its called statefull packet inspection). It's not a magical barrier that will prevent your pc getting compromised, you need good AV software for this.
Artanix
Full Member
exactly what tempy said Firewall just stops ports being opened, however, pretty much anything that opens a port from your PC will do so in a legit manner, so the firewall will let it through.
lets just say one of our biggest customers at work, has a network with well over 5000 devices/routers, etc. (not including our own core), and they only have 3 firewalls. (granted all on links into the internet), but yeah, we're in the unfortunate world where anything that isn't updated at least every 24 hours, is gonna be out of date. So I don't bother with much protection on my comp. Just backup the important stuff to an external drive, and don't leave it connected all the time. If you get a virus, or whatever, and it does enough damage, just reformat. No amount of anti-virus/firewall/spyware solutions will beat a solid backup. (unless you backup the virus).
Firewall just stops ports being opened, however, pretty much anything that opens a port from your PC will do so in a legit manner, so the firewall will let it through.lets just say one of our biggest customers at work, has a network with well over 5000 devices/routers, etc. (not including our own core), and they only have 3 firewalls. (granted all on links into the internet), but yeah, we're in the unfortunate world where anything that isn't updated at least every 24 hours, is gonna be out of date. So I don't bother with much protection on my comp. Just backup the important stuff to an external drive, and don't leave it connected all the time. If you get a virus, or whatever, and it does enough damage, just reformat. No amount of anti-virus/firewall/spyware solutions will beat a solid backup. (unless you backup the virus).
Artanix
Full Member
yeah wireshark might be a bit tooo much info
tbh Cuth, (and this is only my opinion), a software firewall does very little. If its got to your machine, it means its got through the hardware settings and firewall on your router... meaning it'll get through your software firewall unless you've spent a while going through settings and setting it up problem (which is a massive hassle). I'd just carry on with AVG, and do a spyware check every so often.
Another good one is doing start -> run -> msconfig
in there you can see what programs loadup on startup, alot of spyware/malware puts itself in there, just spend an hour going through that list, googling anything you don't recognise, and maybe do the same for all running processes. (if you're concerned that something nasty might be happening)
tbh Cuth, (and this is only my opinion), a software firewall does very little. If its got to your machine, it means its got through the hardware settings and firewall on your router... meaning it'll get through your software firewall unless you've spent a while going through settings and setting it up problem (which is a massive hassle). I'd just carry on with AVG, and do a spyware check every so often.
Another good one is doing start -> run -> msconfig
in there you can see what programs loadup on startup, alot of spyware/malware puts itself in there, just spend an hour going through that list, googling anything you don't recognise, and maybe do the same for all running processes. (if you're concerned that something nasty might be happening)
