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

Comment from Gwyn on 2011-12-14

2011-12-14T20:14:09Z

Thanks Leo. I've just checked, and Wikipedia describe the BT Home Hub as a " wireless residential gateway router". I've also re-read your article about hubs, switches and routers, so I think it's a bit odd that BT should describe it as a "hub", when they could describe it, it seems, as a more powerful/secure "router".

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Comment from Gwyn on 2011-12-14

2011-12-14T16:45:16Z

Is a BT Home Hub (which I have) the same as and/or as good as a router?

I'm not famliar with the BT Home Hub, so you'll need to check with the provider to see if it's really a router. If it's truly a "hub", then no, it does not do what you need.

14-Dec-2011

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Comment from Terri McNulty on 2010-11-06

2010-11-06T13:16:35Z

I scored perfect as well. I do not see the need for a software firewall and was quite pleased to find this article which makes the points that I have been telling people for a very long time. A router, for most people, will suffice. Thank you, Leo, for backing up those of us who tell others, "If you want your computer protected, put it behind a router."

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Comment from R. on 2010-08-01

2010-08-01T22:35:38Z

The best free firewall programs that I've used are Comodo and Zone Alarm. Each has it's pros and cons along with the learning curve for you and the software. I prefer Zone Alarm because I feel it's a tad more user-friendly. To sum it up, if you're a responsible surfer and you keep your system up to date then using either of these will just be some additional security.

BTW, I've always recevied a perfect score from Gibson when I scanned my system.Either the test is missing something or my security is decent.

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Comment from Jeff Hill on 2010-03-09

2010-03-09T17:03:12Z

First, there is never a good reason to NOT have a firewall! Just have a look at a typical log file to see the type and frequency of attacks that are being blocked, typically against ports for services you may not even know are running on your PC (this is where "shields UP" can help).

Your consumer-grade router is probably adequate for home use, and as noted by others usually also provides a DHCP server. See if it has "stealth mode", and if it does, be sure it's turned on.

If you have business assets to protect, however, a dedicated firewall appliance gives you more control, better logging and alerts, etc. I use a SonicWall TZ-100 on my server's DSL, and a LinkSys router on my BrightHouse home network.

Running a software firewall behind a hardware firewall probably won't help you, and will probably degrade performance. Plus, if you've had to do any significant configuration for outbound services you'll have to remember to make any changes to both firewalls.

If you live behind a firewall don't get complacent: be sure to turn the software firewall back on whenever you use a "Public" network (hotel, airport, etc.).

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Comment from Gamer on 2010-02-09

2010-02-09T19:47:30Z

I got a perfect score! Thanks for the info Leo. I really appreciate it!

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Comment from Brian on 2010-01-14

2010-01-15T04:57:34Z

If you don't have file sharing turned on, and you know the things to avoid on internet such as popups, then I fail to see the justification for a firewall. This seems to me to be one of those forms of brainwashing that's occured in the computer world where due to typical user stupidity, people are absolutely convinced that this is therefore their "internet condom". Can you provide any more plausible/logical reason on *why* this is even helpful if you know your way around a pc backwards-and-forwards?

There have been vulnerabilities - both as bugs and as configuration choices - in network-facing protocols other than file sharing that have allowed malware to infect a system not protected by a firewall - even for systems owned by people who claim to know their way around a computer backwards and forwards.

15-Jan-2010

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Comment from Colin Sedgwick on 2010-01-07

2010-01-07T13:41:40Z

Hi All,
A perfect score by Shields Up was achieved by Zone Alarm. You have complete control in and out. Free for private use. A little annoying but you are notified if programs change as well. Simple but effective. A firewall should never be turned off and a hardware and software firewall in tandem is the most secure. There is no conflict between the two. I have used a Router/software firewall combination with AVG on XP for years with no infections even on the most dangerous websites. Keep up the good work Leo.

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Comment from James Nell on 2009-12-29

2009-12-29T21:46:21Z

Hi Leo
Believe it or not , My pc got a perfect score in all areas at Gibson Research
Happy new year for 2010
:-)

Color me impressed.

30-Dec-2009

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Comment from Charles Tilley on 2009-12-29

2009-12-29T20:36:47Z

I don't see anything wrong with the one included with Windows 7. It's adequate for my purposes. On XP Pro, the firewall was fine as well. As long as you play safe computing (no porn sites, not accepting every free download that comes your way to place spyware onto your computer), you should be safe. If the Windows default firewall was no good, they'd be advising to get one.

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Comment from travel on 2009-12-29

2009-12-29T19:08:53Z

I have AOL and it does have its own firewall which I appreciate. Sometimes it does not allow me to go on a particular site, so I just use Firefox to get on. Not really a problem. I hope. Any concerns I should have?

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Comment from Don Taber on 2009-12-29

2009-12-29T17:43:57Z

Agree with most of what you say in this article, but have a comment about the Comodo firewall. The Comodo firewall enjoys #1 ratings from many sources. I used it for several months, but ultimately uninstalled it. Why? It is annoyingly intrusive. It constantly pops up dialog boxes requiring you to allow or disallow one thing or other, even after going thru a long learning period. Its identification of what's trying to get in is almost always cryptic -- usually a file name that means nothing to me (and I help people fix software problems, so are pretty computer literate), and even less to most home computer users. I think it would be helpful to append the article to mention that Comodo is most useful for technically savvy users. Others will do just as well to use the free Windows firewall, even though it's unidirectional.

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Comment from matt Falkenstein on 2009-01-27

2009-01-27T21:00:10Z

Ok, I now know hard/soft firewall, router, hub, switch. Question.... our previous computer technician set up a brand new dedicated server and connected the server > modem > broadband. (we have a dental office with much private info.... 17 computer stations) Currently all the protection we have that I know of is Norton Anitvirus and whatever our broadband has. A new computer tech says, "NOT EVEN ADEQUATE" and recommends a hardware device for max protection (about $500). What is right?

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Comment from Ed on 2008-07-21

2008-07-22T01:56:46Z

I fix computers from time to time and I think some may have been hacked into. When I fix them I don't use my router with a firewall I just connect via my modem and after there repaired I hook my router back up.
So if the hacker can see my ip addy am I still safe since I put my router with firewall back up or should I use my router all the time even when I do repairs

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Comment from David Vogl on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T15:29:22Z

Leo, sorry, I can't type. That IP was 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.199 among others.

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Comment from David Vogl on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T15:25:54Z

Leo,
Lately, according to Zone Alarm I have NUMEROUS programs all trying to contact 192.198.0.198 and .1 and 224.0.0.22 which appear to come from Africa! At your suggestion on the air I bought a D-Link DIR-655 router and NOD32 AV. I deleted ZA as I thought you said all I needed was the router. I'm really worried "something" is on my computer despite complete scans by NOD32 and several other on line scan programs. Should I go back and install Zone Alarm again?
Am I in danger and should I worry?
Thanks, Leo,
David

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-02-06

2008-02-06T17:38:05Z

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

I have seen this, though as you've seen it;s hard to find
documentation on it. The DSL modem at my wife's business was
handing out 192. addresses just as you describe. This does
imply that it's doing NAT, and does imply that it is acting,
in some regard, as a firewall/router. And yes, that would be
sufficient.

And to clarify your lead-in statement, yes a firewall is
still neccessary - it just might already be in your modem.

Leo

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Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)

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Comment from Rln Zastovnik on 2008-02-05

2008-02-06T01:13:36Z

FIREWALL NOT NEEDED? Everyone says use a router/firewall when using DSL, cable, etc. I helped a friend with a new AT&T DSL account and insisted that he buy a router. So he purchased a Netgear router. During the setup, I was surprised to see that the modem was giving out a private 192.168.1.x address. Are they putting NAT firewalls in the modems now? None of the documentation mentioned that there was already a firewall. I installed the Netgear router anyway because I was not sure. Maybe he didn't need to buy the router? I still can't find any info about firewalls being included in DSL modems.
-Ron

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Comment from deepak on 2007-01-27

2007-01-27T08:23:16Z

our office having intranet so there is some sites are blocked so how to use rediffbol bypassing the proxy..kindly let me know

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Comment from brandy on 2006-11-23

2006-11-24T04:38:16Z

hey... i need a little help.. i cant seem to check my emails... i can get onto the hotmail.com website, and i can type in my email address and password.. but when i hit enter, it says page cannot be displayed. i personaly think that it is because of some kind of firewall. but i have no idea how to disable it. can you help me?

can you IM me on aim at gummybear52291 please???

thanks

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Comment from S. Naqvi on 2006-09-22

2006-09-22T19:59:10Z

We have AOL's security system on our computer. My wife chose the computer check on AOL, and chose some option that keeps turning off our internet connection after a minute or so.

We have a router that our computer connects to. It has an IP address that the fire wall seems to reject, but allows initially.

If we go to Google, it allows us connection for a long time. But as soon as we try to go on Yahoo.com or msn.com or aol, then our internet connection gets interrupted. We have to disable and enable our connection again and again to connect for short periods of time.

Please Help.

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Comment from Faye on 2006-05-20

2006-05-20T13:02:32Z

I wanted to get back at my sister for sending me a lot of forwarded chain letters and other dumb stuff so I sent her a barrage of funny emails frm a certain site. It didn't end up the way I had planned as she had just put in a firewall(called firefox) on her comp,she said she couldn't access them,but one frm another site she could see. Why is that? Thanks for ur help!

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Comment from Suresh on 2006-05-15

2006-05-15T10:09:14Z

Hi Leo,

I have Windows 200 professional and Mcafee viruscan 7.1 on my laptop.I have been having my dial-up connection from AOL for about 2 weeks.I did one mistake.I did not update my latest dat file from NAI.com for the viruscan.During that period some virus has entered my system and diabled my task manager.Later I updated teh latest dat file.But still I started getting messages from virscan that a virus file SVCHOST.exe could not be deleted fro c:\winnt\svchost.exe.Then I found this file in that location was just 1 week old.I also found one more file in location c:\winnt\system32\svchost.exe old dated and also smaller in size.Then c:\winnt\system32\svchost.exe to c:\winnt\svchost.exe.The viruscan report stopped coming but now this exe keeps executing itself from c:\winnt\svchost.exe on a empty command window and finally I have got a message on my desktop showing high risk of spyware and some problem on RAM.Please let me know what should I do.I have my Windows ME factory edition for my laptop.Should I go ahead and install the OS.If I take a backup of data on split drive D do I have a chance of getting viruses from the backup.

Thanks,

Chamu

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Comment from Leo on 2006-02-13

2006-02-14T03:13:37Z

You do need a firewall of some sort, so ask your friend why he said not to. The article you just commented on outlines my suggestions.

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Comment from bob on 2006-02-13

2006-02-14T01:13:39Z

i just bought a new computer and when i went to the screen for my firewall, it was turned off. i turned it on and a friend told me i should turn it back off? what exactly is the firewall? i am not very smart when it comes to computers.

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Comment from Leo on 2006-02-01

2006-02-01T18:14:57Z

That's a HUGE topic :-). I'll start you here, though: http://ask-leo.com/how_can_i_keep_my_kids_safe_from_internet_garbage.html

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Comment from Carmelia on 2006-02-01

2006-02-01T18:05:01Z

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

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Comment from Dan on 2005-10-22

2005-10-22T15:00:36Z

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

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Comment from Shravanthi on 2005-10-03

2005-10-03T17:21:40Z

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.

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Comment from sirigos on 2004-10-30

2004-10-31T00:46:23Z

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

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Comment from Melinda on 2004-10-25

2004-10-25T17:55:35Z

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.

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Comment from Melinda on 2004-10-25

2004-10-25T17:55:07Z

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Comment from Leo on 2004-09-07

2004-09-08T02:44:32Z

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.

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Comment from Felix on 2004-09-07

2004-09-07T18:54:37Z

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?

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Comment from Leo on 2004-08-24

2004-08-25T04:33:01Z

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!!

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Comment from Jack on 2004-08-24

2004-08-25T03:28:46Z

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.

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