Firewall or not to firewall...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phil
  • Start date Start date
P

Phil

I have two computers attached to a Linksys wireless
broadband router and XPpro on both. One is wired, and the
other is wireless.
In order to share files and the only printer, I had to
disable the firewalls as per the instructions.
My concern now is: am I open to virus attack, or does the
router shield me?
Thanks,
Phil,
 
I have two computers attached to a Linksys wireless
broadband router and XPpro on both. One is wired, and the
other is wireless.
In order to share files and the only printer, I had to
disable the firewalls as per the instructions.
My concern now is: am I open to virus attack, or does the
router shield me?
Thanks,
Phil,
Click to expand...

Antivirus is a different animal than firewall protection. You need an
antivirus program on each computer even if behind a firewall. For example,
email often contains virus so your antivirus program would catch it while
your router/firewall may not.
 
-----Original Message-----


Antivirus is a different animal than firewall protection. You need an
antivirus program on each computer even if behind a firewall. For example,
email often contains virus so your antivirus program would catch it while
your router/firewall may not.
.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your response. I have Norton AV running on
both. I was just concerned about disabling the firewalls.
Phil
 
Does your Linksys router have a firewall program? If so you should be ok
with the firewall off on the clients.

--

Thanks,
Marc Reynolds
Microsoft Technical Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
"Phil" said:
I have two computers attached to a Linksys wireless
broadband router and XPpro on both. One is wired, and the
other is wireless.
In order to share files and the only printer, I had to
disable the firewalls as per the instructions.
My concern now is: am I open to virus attack, or does the
router shield me?
Thanks,
Phil,
Click to expand...

Your Linksys router acts as a hardware firewall, protecting your
computers against undesired incoming traffic from the Internet.

However, it can't protect against undesired outgoing traffic to the
Internet from spyware programs or worms that can't be detected by an
incoming firewall or an antivirus program. For that, you need a
firewall program with outgoing protection, such as ZoneAlarm or Norton
Internet Security.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
-----Original Message-----
Your Linksys router acts as a hardware firewall, protecting your
computers against undesired incoming traffic from the Internet.

However, it can't protect against undesired outgoing traffic to the
Internet from spyware programs or worms that can't be detected by an
incoming firewall or an antivirus program. For that, you need a
firewall program with outgoing protection, such as ZoneAlarm or Norton
Internet Security.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
.
Click to expand...
Steve,
Thanks four your answer. I have Ad-aware 6.0 running on
both systems.
Thanks,
Phil
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top