Windows Firewall

[Mark]

I access the Internet through a router in my home network.

Do I need to have Windows Firewall "on", or does the router's firewall
suffice?

I am just curious to see if the Windows firewall slows my download and
upload speeds.

 

[Alias]

I access the Internet through a router in my home network.

Do I need to have Windows Firewall "on", or does the router's firewall
suffice?

Turn the software firewall on.

I am just curious to see if the Windows firewall slows my download and
upload speeds.

No.

Alias

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I access the Internet through a router in my home network.

Do I need to have Windows Firewall "on", or does the router's firewall
suffice?

I am just curious to see if the Windows firewall slows my download and
upload speeds.

If you use a router with NAT, it's still a very good idea to use a
3rd party software firewall. Like WinXP's built-in firewall,
NAT-capable routers do nothing to protect the user from him/herself (or
any "curious," over-confident teenagers in the home). Again -- and I
cannot emphasize this enough -- almost all spyware and many Trojans and
worms are downloaded and installed deliberately (albeit unknowingly) by
the user. So a software firewall, such as Comodo, Sygate or ZoneAlarm,
that can detect and warn the user of unauthorized out-going traffic is
an important element of protecting one's privacy and security, alerting
you to an unwanted malware application's activity. (Remember: Most
antivirus applications do not even scan for or protect you from
adware/spyware, because, after all, you've installed them yourself, so
you must want them there, right?)

When I ran WinXP, I used both a router with NAT and Sygate Personal
Firewall, even though I generally know better than to install scumware.
When it comes to computer security and protecting my privacy, I prefer
the old "belt and suspenders" approach. In the professional IT
community, this is also known as a "layered defense." Basically, it
comes down to never, ever "putting all of your eggs in one basket."

Having said that, it's important to remember that firewalls and
anti-virus applications, which should always be used and should always
be running, while important components of "safe hex," cannot, and should
not be expected to, protect the computer user from him/herself.
Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and every computer user to learn
how to secure his/her own computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Mark]

Thank you, Bruce, for your info.

If you use a router with NAT, it's still a very good idea to use a 3rd
party software firewall. Like WinXP's built-in firewall, NAT-capable
routers do nothing to protect the user from him/herself (or any "curious,"
over-confident teenagers in the home). Again -- and I cannot emphasize
this enough -- almost all spyware and many Trojans and worms are
downloaded and installed deliberately (albeit unknowingly) by the user.
So a software firewall, such as Comodo, Sygate or ZoneAlarm, that can
detect and warn the user of unauthorized out-going traffic is an important
element of protecting one's privacy and security, alerting you to an
unwanted malware application's activity. (Remember: Most antivirus
applications do not even scan for or protect you from adware/spyware,
because, after all, you've installed them yourself, so you must want them
there, right?)

When I ran WinXP, I used both a router with NAT and Sygate Personal
Firewall, even though I generally know better than to install scumware.
When it comes to computer security and protecting my privacy, I prefer the
old "belt and suspenders" approach. In the professional IT community,
this is also known as a "layered defense." Basically, it comes down to
never, ever "putting all of your eggs in one basket."

Having said that, it's important to remember that firewalls and
anti-virus applications, which should always be used and should always be
running, while important components of "safe hex," cannot, and should not
be expected to, protect the computer user from him/herself. Ultimately, it
is incumbent upon each and every computer user to learn how to secure
his/her own computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand
Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot