XP SP2 Firewall...is it good?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pinger
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Leythos said:
You are right, and I normally state that dialup/cable/dsl/etc
is the
same, and I should have been more specific. What I meant by
direct
connect included Dial-Up with is a direct connection via modem.
Click to expand...



OK, thanks for the clarification.
 
Leythos said:
Get a cheap Linksys BEFRS41 router that provides NAT. This does as well
as SP2's firewall and has nothing to do with the OS or any flaws in
security. It also means that any open ports will not be a factor as the
NAT device will not permit unrequested inbound to your computer.

A BEFSR41 is about $50 most places.
Click to expand...

True, but remember, 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
without his/her understanding the consequences) by the user. So a
software firewall, such as 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. (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?)

I use 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."

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Pinger said:
I forgot to mention I also have a router which supposedly has a firewall
built in (Netgear), so that along with XP's firewall would make 2 firewalls
running.. Safe enough??
Click to expand...
Not really.

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 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. (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?)

I use 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."

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
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