Router & Firewall?

[David Angelovich]

Hi

I've got a DSL modem (with built in firewall) running on my network with
NAT....
Should I also have a hardware firewall?
Someone told me that NAT and the router's capabilities act as a firewall
anyway..... Is this true?

- David Angelovich

 

[Richard G. Harper]

If your DSL modem contains a firewall, that is a "hardware" firewall.

 

[David Angelovich]

Sorry, what I meant was it has built-in Router.... not firewall.... i typed
the wrong thing.....

- David Angelovich

If your DSL modem contains a firewall, that is a "hardware" firewall.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hi

I've got a DSL modem (with built in firewall) running on my network with
NAT....
Should I also have a hardware firewall?
Someone told me that NAT and the router's capabilities act as a firewall
anyway..... Is this true?

- David Angelovich

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Ah ... that's different.

NAT provides a fair amount of protection for the computers behind the
router. In theory the presence of NAT means that the computer(s) behind the
router are invisible to the Internet. In practice this may depend on the
configuration of the router, especially if it's forwarding ports to any PC
inside the NAT barrier.

Adding a firewall to the network setup will provide further protection - or
at least alert you if unwanted traffic is getting to your PC. If you add a
third-party firewall (as opposed to the built-in XP firewall) you will get
both incoming and outgoing alerts and protection - which could come in handy
if you have let something inside that's establishing a connection you don't
want to the outside world.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Sorry, what I meant was it has built-in Router.... not firewall.... i typed
the wrong thing.....

- David Angelovich

If your DSL modem contains a firewall, that is a "hardware" firewall.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hi

I've got a DSL modem (with built in firewall) running on my network with
NAT....
Should I also have a hardware firewall?
Someone told me that NAT and the router's capabilities act as a firewall
anyway..... Is this true?

- David Angelovich

 

[David Angelovich]

Suppose I were to not install a firewall of any kind (or maybe just leave
the XP one on), and port forwarding were disabled...
Would that be terribly unwise?

Ah ... that's different.

NAT provides a fair amount of protection for the computers behind the
router. In theory the presence of NAT means that the computer(s) behind the
router are invisible to the Internet. In practice this may depend on the
configuration of the router, especially if it's forwarding ports to any PC
inside the NAT barrier.

Adding a firewall to the network setup will provide further protection - or
at least alert you if unwanted traffic is getting to your PC. If you add a
third-party firewall (as opposed to the built-in XP firewall) you will get
both incoming and outgoing alerts and protection - which could come in handy
if you have let something inside that's establishing a connection you don't
want to the outside world.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Sorry, what I meant was it has built-in Router.... not firewall.... i typed
the wrong thing.....

- David Angelovich

If your DSL modem contains a firewall, that is a "hardware" firewall.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hi

I've got a DSL modem (with built in firewall) running on my network with
NAT....
Should I also have a hardware firewall?
Someone told me that NAT and the router's capabilities act as a firewall
anyway..... Is this true?

- David Angelovich

 

[Richard G. Harper]

I can't say it would be "terribly" unwise, if you practice safe computing
habits the combination of NAT plus XP's firewall is probably plenty of
protection. But if you're in the habit of opening unexpected attachments
and/or surfing sites whose pedigree you don't know for sure then you may
wish to consider added protection.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Suppose I were to not install a firewall of any kind (or maybe just leave
the XP one on), and port forwarding were disabled...
Would that be terribly unwise?

Ah ... that's different.

NAT provides a fair amount of protection for the computers behind the
router. In theory the presence of NAT means that the computer(s) behind the
router are invisible to the Internet. In practice this may depend on the
configuration of the router, especially if it's forwarding ports to any PC
inside the NAT barrier.

Adding a firewall to the network setup will provide further protection - or
at least alert you if unwanted traffic is getting to your PC. If you

add

a
third-party firewall (as opposed to the built-in XP firewall) you will get
both incoming and outgoing alerts and protection - which could come in handy
if you have let something inside that's establishing a connection you don't
want to the outside world.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Sorry, what I meant was it has built-in Router.... not firewall.... i typed
the wrong thing.....

- David Angelovich

If your DSL modem contains a firewall, that is a "hardware" firewall.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hi

I've got a DSL modem (with built in firewall) running on my

network
with

NAT....
Should I also have a hardware firewall?
Someone told me that NAT and the router's capabilities act as a firewall
anyway..... Is this true?

- David Angelovich

 

[David Angelovich]

I understand now.
Thanks for your help.

- David Angelovich

I can't say it would be "terribly" unwise, if you practice safe computing
habits the combination of NAT plus XP's firewall is probably plenty of
protection. But if you're in the habit of opening unexpected attachments
and/or surfing sites whose pedigree you don't know for sure then you may
wish to consider added protection.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Suppose I were to not install a firewall of any kind (or maybe just leave
the XP one on), and port forwarding were disabled...
Would that be terribly unwise?


behind
the

any

PC

inside the NAT barrier.

Adding a firewall to the network setup will provide further

protection -
or

at least alert you if unwanted traffic is getting to your PC. If you

add

a
third-party firewall (as opposed to the built-in XP firewall) you will get
both incoming and outgoing alerts and protection - which could come in handy
if you have let something inside that's establishing a connection you don't
want to the outside world.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Sorry, what I meant was it has built-in Router.... not firewall.... i
typed
the wrong thing.....

- David Angelovich

If your DSL modem contains a firewall, that is a "hardware" firewall.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hi

I've got a DSL modem (with built in firewall) running on my network
with
NAT....
Should I also have a hardware firewall?
Someone told me that NAT and the router's capabilities act as a
firewall
anyway..... Is this true?

- David Angelovich

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Glad to be able to help.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

I understand now.
Thanks for your help.

- David Angelovich

I can't say it would be "terribly" unwise, if you practice safe computing
habits the combination of NAT plus XP's firewall is probably plenty of
protection. But if you're in the habit of opening unexpected attachments
and/or surfing sites whose pedigree you don't know for sure then you may
wish to consider added protection.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Suppose I were to not install a firewall of any kind (or maybe just leave
the XP one on), and port forwarding were disabled...
Would that be terribly unwise?


Ah ... that's different.

NAT provides a fair amount of protection for the computers behind the
router. In theory the presence of NAT means that the computer(s) behind
the
router are invisible to the Internet. In practice this may depend

on
the

configuration of the router, especially if it's forwarding ports to

any

PC
inside the NAT barrier.

Adding a firewall to the network setup will provide further protection -
or
at least alert you if unwanted traffic is getting to your PC. If

you
add

a
third-party firewall (as opposed to the built-in XP firewall) you

will
get

both incoming and outgoing alerts and protection - which could come in
handy
if you have let something inside that's establishing a connection you
don't
want to the outside world.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Sorry, what I meant was it has built-in Router.... not

firewall....

i

typed
the wrong thing.....

- David Angelovich

If your DSL modem contains a firewall, that is a "hardware" firewall.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hi

I've got a DSL modem (with built in firewall) running on my network
with
NAT....
Should I also have a hardware firewall?
Someone told me that NAT and the router's capabilities act as a
firewall
anyway..... Is this true?

- David Angelovich