hardware firewall for laptops

[Guest]

Can you use a hardware firewall with a laptop while on the road or do you
need to be near the f-wall itself? Is it an internal or external device?

 

[thecreator]

Hi Gramp Pete,

A Hardware Firewall you are referring to is considered to be a Router.
While you are on the road, you don't have access to a Router, because ythe
Router plugs into a Cable or DSL Modem to acquire the signal. Go with a
Software Firewall like McAfee Personal Firewall.

 

[Leythos]

Can you use a hardware firewall with a laptop while on the road or do you
need to be near the f-wall itself? Is it an internal or external device?

They make small portable NAT devices, hardly a firewall -not any more a
firewall than other NAT devices, but they do block unsolicited inbound
connections if setup properly.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Gramp Pete,

A Hardware Firewall you are referring to is considered to be a
Router.

A router can provide firewall-like services, but it's not a firewall itself.
A real hardware firewall is either a standalone firewall unit or a separate
computer running special software that turns it into a firewall (different
from the personal firewall software most of us run under Windows).

While you are on the road, you don't have access to a Router,

Although that's usually true--most people traveling don't want to lug a
router along with them--it should be noted that it's certainly not
impossible. I could conceive of a couple traveling together, each with his
own laptop, and bringing a router so each could have internet access in
their hotel room.

because ythe Router plugs into a Cable or DSL Modem to acquire the
signal. Go with a Software Firewall like McAfee Personal Firewall.

Yes, I agree that he should use personal firewall software, although McAfee
wouldn't be my choice.