Firewall

[Drew]

Hello -

I have a home network with three computers connected to the internet thru a
router. One computer is running WinME, one Win98, and the latest WinXP.

Should I install the firewall in WinXP? will it cause any problems on the
network?

Thanks

Drew

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a home network with three computers connected to the internet
thru a router. One computer is running WinME, one Win98, and the
latest WinXP.

Should I install the firewall in WinXP? will it cause any problems
on the network?

Are you sharing files/printers from the XP machine?
Is the XP machine sharing its internet connection with the other machines?
In other words, does it connect to the Internet and all other machines
connect to it, not to the network directly like it does?

If not to both - then no - should cause no issues.

 

[Jerry C. Sanders]

I have a Win Me, and two Xps set up on a network with Linksys router--when I
tried the XP Firewall--only on Internet--it knocked out the printer sharing
capacity--not just Internet--and also made me re setup the network--you may
have better luck. I now do not have XP Firewall activated. Good luck

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

If you have broadband, get a small firewall hardware device and put it
between your Internet router and your network. You can pick up one for about
$120USD. I like the NetGear FVS318, but there are many comparable models.
Make sure it's a true SPI firewall and not just a NAT device. By default,
the firewall should block all inbound ports - you can control what outbound
ports you want to block if any.

Of course, a firewall is only one of many layers of security...but it's an
important first step.

 

[NobodyMan]

If you have broadband, get a small firewall hardware device and put it
between your Internet router and your network. You can pick up one for about
$120USD. I like the NetGear FVS318, but there are many comparable models.
Make sure it's a true SPI firewall and not just a NAT device. By default,
the firewall should block all inbound ports - you can control what outbound
ports you want to block if any.

Of course, a firewall is only one of many layers of security...but it's an
important first step.

Or save yourself about $120 and download a free copy of ZoneAlarm.
It's a software firewall but will accomplish the same thing as the h/w
firewall, for a cost of nothing but download and install time.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I'd rather protect a network at the perimeter even if I still want to use a
software firewall. Also consider resource load on workstations. Not bad to
use both, but best to at least have a guard dog between your Internet
connection and your network.

 

[NobodyMan]

I'd rather protect a network at the perimeter even if I still want to use a
software firewall. Also consider resource load on workstations. Not bad to
use both, but best to at least have a guard dog between your Internet
connection and your network.

Yea, point taken, but come on. This is a Home LAN with three systems
using peer-to-peer. ZA isn't going to put any real load on them
network or resource wise.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

NobodyMan wrote:
(e-mail address removed)

On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 22:14:52 -0500, "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"


Drew wrote:
Hello -

I have a home network with three computers connected to the
internet thru a router. One computer is running WinME, one
Win98, and the latest WinXP.

Should I install the firewall in WinXP? will it cause any
problems on the network?

Thanks

Drew

If you have broadband, get a small firewall hardware device and
put it between your Internet router and your network. You can pick
up one for about $120USD. I like the NetGear FVS318, but there are
many comparable models. Make sure it's a true SPI firewall and not
just a NAT device. By default, the firewall should block all
inbound ports - you can control what outbound ports you want to
block if any.

Of course, a firewall is only one of many layers of security...but
it's an important first step.

Or save yourself about $120 and download a free copy of ZoneAlarm.
It's a software firewall but will accomplish the same thing as the
h/w firewall, for a cost of nothing but download and install time.

I'd rather protect a network at the perimeter even if I still want
to use a software firewall. Also consider resource load on
workstations. Not bad to use both, but best to at least have a guard
dog between your Internet connection and your network.

Yea, point taken, but come on. This is a Home LAN with three systems
using peer-to-peer. ZA isn't going to put any real load on them
network or resource wise.

Unless it's an non-updated copy of ZoneAlarm and someone uses it to execute
code on your PC..

http://secunia.com/advisories/10921/
http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/securityAlert/8.html