Help Needed with VPN and Firewall

[ikey]

I have a VPN at home for our three PC's. The internet connection is an ADSL
modem and the PC's connect to this via an Ethernet switch. As I understand
it this set up essentially means each PC connects directly to the net,
rather than through a host PC.

Having recently enabled the internet connection firewall (ICF), I can no
longer share files and printers between the PC's in my home. The Windows
'Help and Support' says that ICF should not be enabled in a VPN but does not
offer any suggestions as to how to protect the PC's in my setup from hackers
and worm type viruses. It does talk about ICS being the preferred setup for
VPN's but how do I do this, do I have to change the hardware set up and buy
a hub? Also, I am charged for my internet usage by the MB, am I correct in
assuming that I am being charged every time I share a file or the printer
under my current set up (with ICF disabled)? Please feel free to email me
ikeyATskibuff.com

Thanks

 

[Terry Chambers]

I have a VPN at home for our three PC's. The internet connection is an ADSL
modem and the PC's connect to this via an Ethernet switch. As I understand
it this set up essentially means each PC connects directly to the net,
rather than through a host PC.

Having recently enabled the internet connection firewall (ICF), I can no
longer share files and printers between the PC's in my home. The Windows
'Help and Support' says that ICF should not be enabled in a VPN but does not
offer any suggestions as to how to protect the PC's in my setup from hackers
and worm type viruses. It does talk about ICS being the preferred setup for
VPN's but how do I do this, do I have to change the hardware set up and buy
a hub? Also, I am charged for my internet usage by the MB, am I correct in
assuming that I am being charged every time I share a file or the printer
under my current set up (with ICF disabled)? Please feel free to email me
ikeyATskibuff.com

The best home setup is to use a Gateway device so that your net
connection feeds into that device and then your other computers feed to
the Gateway. That protects your computers through a built-in firewall
on the device and will allow you to share files / printers etc without
having to worry too much.

All home network traffic would never hit the ADSL connection so you
would not be charged for any of that.