Simple question about Firewall on Windows XP Home Edition SP2

[Guest]

We have two computers at our house and are running Windows XP Home Edition on
both. We have them connected to a home network through a Linksys router. One
of the two systems on the network is set up as an internet server of a 56kbps
connection. The server does not have SP2 yet, but the other system does. The
both have Norton AntiVirus 2003 installed and are updated frequently. My
quetstion is this... If the server computer already has Norton AntiVirus
Auto-Protect running, as well as the built in Firewall... Do I need to have
the Firewall enabled on the other system as well, or is it already protected
enough through the server's Firewall?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

The answer is really determined by how much protection you want and involves
more than just what you have specified as a consideration. The XP firewall
only blocks incoming messages not outgoing and it doesn't alert you to
outgoing calls be made from the system. A router is an added layer but it
doesn't alert you to outgoing calls either. If a Trojan manages to get on
the system and starts "phoning home," you not only have no defense, you have
no warning at least not until its too late. It should also be noted that
the general rule of thumb is, any computer that has Internet access,
including any on a network, should be firewalled.

Most of the third party firewalls not only offer free versions, they all
block outgoing as well as incoming and alert you to such possibly unwanted
or unanticipated activity:
www.agnitum.com
www.zonelabs.com
www.sygate.com
http://www.tinysoftware.com/home/tiny2?la=EN
http://www.kerio.com/kerio.html