Firewalls

[Eroberer]

Kuci, that's what I suspected, but I thought I was going crazy. The firewall included with Windows Vista should protect people against outgoing internet requests.

NAT routers are genuinely good for network security. They offer basically the same functionality as Windows XP firewall.

[Kuciwalker]

Sadly, my NAT no longer provide such security, since I'm on a huge network (and I'm pretty sure it isn't NATed anyway).

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Eroberer
Windows Vista

I won't be "upgrading" for a long time, thanks.

[thesilentone]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Sadly, my NAT no longer provide such security, since I'm on a huge network (and I'm pretty sure it isn't NATed anyway).

The whole reason a router provides much better security is because you don't have a direct IP exposed to whoever wants to grab you. As long you aren't directly that IP, you're protected to a large extent, so you should be fine. (touch wood)

[Kuciwalker]

Except from one of the thousands of independently owned and maintained computers on the local network.

[thesilentone]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Except from one of the thousands of independently owned and maintained computers on the local network.

Well, If you have your own IP, then yes, you need either a hardware/software firewall! Never heard of a network providing more than a subnet mask but we live and learn. Personally I've never even had a virus let alone a connection based pwnage since 2002 or so... maybe less.

[SlowwHand]

Primary pc takes the brunt. Secondary gets little if any.

[Eroberer]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Sadly, my NAT no longer provide such security, since I'm on a huge network (and I'm pretty sure it isn't NATed anyway).

You could probably still pick up one of those commodity routers from the store and plug it in, and get the same level of protection that you'd get if there was nobody else on your network. I take it you're getting a private IP address where you connect (10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x.x through 172.31.x.x.x, or 192.168.x.x)? Most routers in stores provide a level of subnetting that would allow you to connect to your usual network without any problems.

That's just something to consider, but since you've already got a firewall, it's probably not really necessary.

Most security problems are "PEBKAC" anyway. A lot of people don't want to get a firewall because they think the firewall is too complicated. Similar people to these will click on any link that comes in their email like it's a disease whose only cure is dancing hamster videos.

[Kuciwalker]

You could probably still pick up one of those commodity routers from the store and plug it in, and get the same level of protection that you'd get if there was nobody else on your network.

Or I could not care and use the free Symantec security

Plus I'm on the wireless network a lot of the time.

[LordShiva]

ZoneAlarm Pro.

(And no, I don't use MS's defragmenter, I use Diskepeer 10 Professional )

[thesilentone]

I can understand people wanting virus scanners nowadays, though personally, I've noticed much less need for it, and I could even understand wanting a firewall in years gone past, cos lots of programs were devious and wanted to phone home so it was helpful to know which programs wanted an internet connection out. But nowadays, what use is a firewall mostly, if you're behind a router?

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
I don't believe you. Give us a screenshot.

Actually, Windows firewall does do this; it asks if you want to unblock the program the first time you run it.

Can't get you screenshots cos I don't use it

[Eroberer]

A router is fine security, tso. A lot of security professionals that I know, in fact, do not use a firewall or virus scanner on their home systems. I personally choose to use both just for those "oops" moments (checking my email too fast, I guess). I also sometimes like to try out little programs or product demos that I see around the internet. Also, I never know what the next threat is (e.g. web scripting, MS Office docs), and I also don't trust every computer that goes on my network (brother's, friends, etc.).

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Actually, Windows firewall does do this; it asks if you want to unblock the program the first time you run it.

Can't get you screenshots cos I don't use it

However (according to them) it only blocks incoming connections, not outgoing.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Except from one of the thousands of independently owned and maintained computers on the local network.

A firewall isn't intended to guard against internal threat anyway. The internal network is pretty much a trusted area.