Do I need a firewall, and if so, what kind?

Thanks Leo for your excellent site. I gain more here than many else.

I am now using Linksys wireless-B Broadband router (same as yours) for my home network. My question is: Do I still need firewall in my computer in addition to the in-built firewall function of the router. The latter in my understanding is via NAT.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Depends on what you're doing, but in general, the answer's no ... the NAT firewall will do the trick.

It does for me.

Thanks!!

I've found that while my firewall is up, I cannot post to some forums, nor register with some sites (like my local newspaper classifieds.) Can I turn it off for these functions and still be relatively safe?

I'd find out what your firewall is blocking that's preventing those things from working, and then adjusting it to allow what you need. How for both will vary depending on what firewall you're using. Internet viruses can happen fairly quickly (people downloading patches have gotten reinfected faster than they can download), so I'm hesitant to recommend turning off the firewall completely.

My computer has a firewall from Windows Service Pack 2 and virus protection. My question is I just purchased an internet system with 5 protection programs, which includes a firewall and antivirus protection, Do I need this in addition to what I already have? or is it unnecessary.

My computer has a firewall from Windows Service Pack 2 and virus protection. My question is I just purchased an internet system with 5 protection programs, which includes a firewall and antivirus protection, Do I need this in addition to what I already have? or is it unnecessary.

Gibson Research is a fantastic free site everybody should use.
thanks for the tip

My computer has a Norton Personal Firewall installed. and the rediff bol application is not getting started because one of the ports is blocked because of the firewall. What do i do to make the application work without turning off the firewall.

I use Sygate Personal Firewall, it is free and does an excellent job

Dear Leo;
I am a soon to be foster parent of teen aged girls and I want to protect them from as many potential Internet related problems as possible, including chat rooms with unseemly types. What suggestions do you have for parents/foster parents with kids who want to use the Internet?
Ann