Do I Need a Firewall? - Comments Page 2

If you have a spare computer lying around, you can turn it into a hardware firewall using BrazilFW. Just plug in the information your ISP gave you, it makes a boot disk, and you're all set. It's what I use.

Thank you for this excellent write-up. I am currently once again struggling with the CA firewall I have been using for many years. This time, it's blocking net access after waking the PC, generating a log entry for svchost.exe outgoing blocked. Closing and restarting the firewall program (or rebooting) restores normal access. CA tech support has not been able to help correct the problem (sending me on wild goose chases).

I have a NAT router, and will be disabling the software firewall permanently (except for my laptop). With CA's firewall off, I tested my connection at "Shields Up!," and my computer is just as stealth as when the software is running. Thanks!

I'd have to agree with Walter. Any discussion about firewalls/routers should come with the caveat that a firewall really is best suited to protecting you from outside attacks. Once you click on that bad link and allow a keyboard logger (or some other spyware/virus) get installed on your pc, there's not too much a firewall can do.

So let the users beware! A firewall is no substitute for safe web browsing/email habits!

I just stumbled across your article while doing some reaserch for my own article on the sunject. Your thoughts on firewalls mirror my own.

There is much "agreeing to disagree" going on in this series of posts but there is one fact that I find interesting: You will rarely find a computer technician that uses a software firewall on his personal computer. A technician knows that it is not necessary as long as you take some very basic precations.

If you keep Windows updated, run updated antivirus, peform ther occaisional antispyware scan and have service pack 2 enabled, then a firewall is completely unnessary. Yes, completely.

On the other hand, if you have either a pervert in the house or any teenagers using the computer, then a software firewall may be your last line of defense.

Well, I am a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy, so I have no problem in principle using hardware and software firewalls. From my point of view they do slightly different things [and for all the remarks about the requirements of user control, one typing error in a URL can expose you to a drive-by downloading -- less prevalent now with browser security add-ons like NoScript, but still possible].

On the other appendage, I find sofware firewalls increasingly fragile -- I used ZoneAlarm for many years, and have just started using Comodo Firewall. In both cases, after being installed, configured, and working correctly for some time, they would stop working [blocking permitted access, for example], and there seemed to be no way to repair them.

I am surprised that more people are not using, or advising the use of, the great little program "Email Remover". This little gem allows you to look at what email you have, and who it is from, while it is still out on the server. You can then delete all the trash mail and other unwanted mail before it is downloaded to your PC.
Saves a lot of your time as well as protecting you from possibly damaging downloads.

Get a Mac... In addition to OS X being safer over all, its built-in firewall is outstanding!

Hi Bob, Thank you so much for your," Tour Bus," I am and have learnt a lot. Please give more info on Bern's comments re: "Email Remover", the process to access and use it. Thanks again, keep up the good work.

EDITOR'S NOTE: See www.email-remover.com

Hi,

I'm really a novice when it comes to security issues. I have a Sony Vaio laptop with Vista Home Premium 32 bit and service pack 2. I recently reinstalled Vista on several techs' advice because my computer had almost slowed to a halt.

I am using Verizon FIOS with their Actiontec router or modem or whatever it is. I am connected wirelessly from the laptop to the Actiontec. I have Norton 360 and Webroot SpySweeper with Antivirus. I have about 6 months left in each subscription. After reading your article above, I checked to see if I had Windows Firewall turned on. It was off.

When I clicked to turn it on, I received a warning from Norton 360 that Norton is the best defense against online threats, and that I should leave Windows Firewall off. Should I leave it off as Norton 360 recommends? How protected am I with all of my above setup?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You don't need BOTH the Norton and the Windows firewall. If you're going to stay with Norton, turn off the Windows firewall.