Comments for So do I need SP2's Windows Firewall or not?

Comment from Brian Wadsworth on 2008-11-17

2008-11-18T01:39:08Z

I have windows firewall enabled on my laptop. I also have Mcafee anti virus installed which also has firewall enabled. I was told that more than 1 firewall can conflict with each other. Which one do I need or is preferred?

Typically the when you get an additional firewall the Windows built-in firewall is the first one you turn off.

- Leo
18-Nov-2008

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Comment from angeln on 2008-01-27

2008-01-27T23:28:04Z

Yes, i have installed sp2 on my computer, ever since then i have had troube with my boot up. I dont know what has caused this, cause i have reinstalled windows xp before no problem with sp2, but now i am having boot up problems. And i am unable to use my zone alarm without this sp2. Is there any other firewalls i can use other zone alarm without having to use sp2???

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Comment from Dan B on 2007-10-21

2007-10-21T23:46:18Z

Is there a way to make the software firewall of my laptop automaticaly activate when using other/public network(ie: not on home network) AND deactivate when I'm on my home network(has a router and I trust my LAN) ?

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Comment from gonwwith the wind on 2006-03-31

2006-03-31T14:46:57Z

If your Notebook or Desktop Computer contains or is "likely" to have a Wireless Card connected to it (With USB ports I would say this is Mandatory), you do need a good Software Firewall to stop possible Wireless Intrusion directly into your LAN.

A Router ***will not Block*** this traffic!

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Comment from Martin on 2006-03-16

2006-03-17T00:52:22Z

I believe running a software firewall remains prudent even behind a NAT Router. This is particularly true if you let (either deliberately or accidentally) untrusted machines onto your network. Once an untrusted machine is on your network they can infect you directly and you (and the NAT Router) will never know it happened.

There are many ways that this can happen...

1. The majority of casual computer users do not know how to secure a wireless network and an unsecured wireless network is an open invitation for unwanted guests. (At my previous home I could see three unsecured networks that remained unsecured even after repeated offers to help them get secure).

2. Perhaps you invite guests onto your network, e.g. friends for LAN gaming.

3. You have untrustworthy users with their own machines on your network, for example, teenagers who P2P and lack the skills to prevent 'accidents'.

4. Even a skilled user can be caught out if they offer to 'fix' a friends computer and connect it to their LAN without thinking.

5. A mobile machine may pick up an infection elsewhere and bring it home to behind the NAT Router.

etc.

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Comment from blackdahlia on 2006-03-10

2006-03-10T19:27:40Z

This comment is for Edward who asked if it is safe to download from Limewire. It's safe just make sure you have a good antivirus program and you scan everything you download before you run it. Be extra careful if you download software because a large percentage of the software downloads on Limewire are viruses, worms or trojans.

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Comment from Edard Ludi on 2006-03-10

2006-03-10T13:04:44Z

Is it safe to use Limeware music download? is it safe for my computer?

Thank You,

Edward Ldu

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Comment from Paul on 2006-02-26

2006-02-26T14:38:05Z

If you are using a router with NAT(Network Address Translation)enabled then you do not need a software firewall. This is because any potential hacker 'probing' your network will only 'see' the router which, of course, does not hold any valuable information. NAT allows the router to change the ip address header of any data packets sent from your p.c. Instead of the ip address of your p.c. the packet is sent out with the ip address of the router itself. Therefore when a hacker 'probes' your network looking for a reply from your p.c. all he gets is a reply from the router. In effect your p.c. is 'hidden' behind the router.
If your p.c. is not behind a router then you most definately DO need a software firewall. However, if you do use a NAT enabled router then software firewalls are not necessary.

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Comment from Leo on 2006-02-06

2006-02-07T03:10:50Z

I don't believe it CAN be uninstalled. You can go to the security center in Control Panel to turn it on, if it was simply turned off.

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Comment from Brian on 2006-02-06

2006-02-07T02:56:28Z

If I have to allow xp firewall to be uninstalled where do I go to to reinstall it?

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Comment from Leo on 2005-12-15

2005-12-16T05:02:16Z

Automatic updates should be fine.

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Comment from dave on 2005-12-05

2005-12-06T06:10:05Z

hi i have windows xp from about a year ago and just had to reinstall. I was just wondering is sp2 necessary and if so how should i get it. I dont have the disc, and ive downloaded it off the internet but i think ive picked something up both times ive tried it.(my computer takes forever to shut off after downloading it twice now)I dont know if theres a safe place to get it. can i just do my automatic updates and get it that way.

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Comment from Leo on 2005-09-15

2005-09-15T23:42:49Z

One firewall active at a time is all I recommend. More than that, and things can often get confused.

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Comment from STEF on 2005-09-15

2005-09-15T22:38:32Z

is it true that the more firewalls you have the better of when you install one the other gets disabled.

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Comment from Steve0 on 2005-07-31

2005-07-31T20:48:04Z

In my humble opinion if you are behind a router then a software firewall is more hassle than it is worth. Why? Because no software can distinguish between connections you want to make and connections you don’t. Sure you can configure it, but you can’t for every eventuality. And yeah it offers a dialog box asking you to allow or deny connection requests, but I would bet that most people simply select the same option every time, whichever they feel more comfortable with, without understanding what made the request and why it was made.

My tact is to install spy ware and virus removers. If you can trust all the software on your computer then there is no reason to ever ‘deny’ any outbound connections. Prevention is better than the cure, right?

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Comment from Leo on 2004-11-01

2004-11-01T16:48:07Z

I agree with pretty much everything you've said, but one clarification: current versions of Outlook and Outlook express do not execute code "unwillingly" by default. The standard behaviour is actually pretty safe these days.

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Comment from Travis McGuire on 2004-11-01

2004-11-01T13:55:39Z

For most users, I recommend both a hardware (router) and software firewall, especially if you have kids. WinXP SP2 works great. If you don't have WinXP use Sygate, it also works very well. I also recommend not using Outlook or Outlook Express, because they execute code unwillingly. Use Eudora or another free email client and don't use Internet Explorer, but using something like Firefox. The more of these you change to, the least likely you are to get malicous spyware and viruses.

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Comment from Leo on 2004-10-27

2004-10-27T11:43:20Z

You only need one or the other.

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Comment from JOSEPH TURNER on 2004-10-25

2004-10-26T02:57:41Z

I HAVE WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 2,I HAVE NORTON INTERNET SECURITY,WHEN I TURN MY NORTON INTERNET SECURITY ON I AM NOT ABLE TO GET ON THE INTERNET.IS IT OK TO JUST HAVE MY FIREWALL IN THE XP SERVICE PACK 2 ON OR SHOULD I HAVE BOTH OF THEM ON,IS THEIR A WAY I CAN HAVE BOTH OF THEM ON.PLEASE REPLY A.S.A.P.

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Comment from err101 on 2004-10-19

2004-10-20T05:09:47Z

I would like to add that a good dose of common sense will protect you too. Having credit card numbers, social security numbers, ect. laying around on your PC is not very smart. Spyware looks through your computer the same way people look through your garbage. Keeping it void of critical personal data is the 100% way of preventing theft.

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Comment from Andrew on 2004-09-27

2004-09-28T01:25:50Z

I would like to take issue with your article "So Do I Need SP2�s Windows Firewall Or Not?
".
You state that if you are behind a firewall or NAT, that you dont need a firewall, and that an "outbound" firewall is not required.
You obviously live on some other world wide web my friend.
Consider this scenario:
In your wisdom you visit some suspect web sites,and some spyware is unknowing installed on your PC.
The next time you connect to the web, the spyware "phones home" with all your bank and credit card details.

If an outbound firewall were in operation, you would be asked if you want to allow "program X" to connect to the internet, choosing NO prevents the phone home action, choosing YES allows it to happen. Without an outbound firewall in place this prompt for connection does not happen and you are blissfully unaware of the activity your pc has just performed. Whether or not you are behind a firewall or NAT is irrelevant in this case, as the activity has been initiated FROM YOUR END OF THE CONNECTION.
As there is NO WAY to categorically prevent your pc from this type of infection, the absence of an outbound firewall is a licence to print money for the spyware makers.

Andrew Curtis

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Comment from Leo on 2004-09-27

2004-09-28T01:08:57Z

Sure. You can run with both firewalls enabled.

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Comment from Elton Brown on 2004-09-26

2004-09-26T18:08:12Z

Can I have the Windows XP2 firewall on AND continue using my router?

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Comment from Leo on 2004-09-22

2004-09-22T16:09:38Z

Sounds like you really have your act together, that's great.

A couple of things: SP2 has more fixes than just the security stuff that is getting all the press. And, as you've already guessed, it's likely that some future updates, or even some future applications, will require SP2 already be installed.

But given your track record, I'd be ok waiting to install it until you actually ran across a need.

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Comment from DR. MILES E. STONE, M.D. on 2004-09-22

2004-09-22T09:16:46Z

Hi,
I have a befsr41 Linksys router, avg anti virus updated daily, spybot, adaware, spywareblaster and system mechanic. Do I need to download sp2 at all?? I have been able to kill and or block all viruses, trojans, worms, and spyware for 1 year with current updates of all defensive utilities. Isn't that enough? Or must I get sp2 so I can be ready for receiving further , later on updates that may need sp2 to be installed? Thank you,
Sincerely,
Miles

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Comment from Michael on 2004-09-20

2004-09-21T05:11:20Z

As someone on the front lines of dealing with the influx of Spyware/Malware. You can't do enough in protecting your system from these old and new threats, especially if you have a DSL/Broadband connection. You can become infected by just going to a wrong website. I recommend a Nat based Firewall, Norton Internet Security 2005 and Spysweeper (It will catch the spyware ) and make sure you enable the popup blocker in IE (WinXP sp2 installs one in IE )oh and last but not least Keep Windows XP updated through Windows Update. Happy Surfing.

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Comment from Tracy Eckels on 2004-09-18

2004-09-18T07:58:21Z

This is the same advice that I give out with the addition of the fact that I favor actually purchasing a router with NAT protection, than purchasing firewall software. Of course this applies to broadband users but the benifit is that for a little added expense you get far superior protection that never needs updating, and has absolutely no effect on your computers performance.
A software firewall will after a while begin to slow your system since it has to activly remember every connection that is "allowed" on the PC and block those that aren't allowed in addition monitoring the connection for common threats. This uses a lot of system resources.
NAT (Network Address Translation) simply hides your computer from the network making it invulnerable from attack. Worth every penny. I've even suggested to Linksys that they manufacture and market standalone NAT devices that people can install between their DSL modem and phone line connection. They would rake it in!

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Comment from Larry Osterman on 2004-09-15

2004-09-15T16:55:03Z

The problem with not having a firewall enabled on machines behind a hardware firewall is this leads to what's called M&M security - a hard crunchy outside, but a soft, chewy inside.

If someone gets behind your hardware firewall with an infected machine, then your entire network is vulnerable. This isn't a big deal if you've got one machine on a DSL connection - the hardware firewall does a great job of handling this.

On the other hand if you've got a wireless network (especially an unprotected wireless network), anyone bringing an infected machine near your wireless network might compromise the machines behind the firewall.

So Leo's comment is totally accurate for 90% of the users out there. But the caveats will bite you if you're not careful.

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Comment from Chastity Benefits on 2004-09-15

2004-09-15T12:18:41Z

Please don't install ALARMinglyunfriendlysoftware like ZoneALARM. Instead use either the free Outpost or Outpost Pro from agnitum

http://agnitum.com

Unlike ZoneAlarm, if you decide you uninstall Outpost you will be able to try other firewall packages, and your operating system will continue to function as you would expect.

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Comment from Anonymous on 2004-09-14

2004-09-15T01:26:50Z

Dear Leo:

Thanks for the great info. Now I have a better understanding of what a router and Windows XP Firewall will and will not do.

Armed with this information, I will now activiate my new Wireless-G Broadband Router (802.11g) and disable my Windows Firewall. Or, as you stated...(notify Windows Security that I will manage my own firewall).

I will add Zone Alarm for Outbound protection, as there are always programs, at one time or another, asking for Internet Connection.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to shed some light on this problem...I hope it will help others that have had the same questions, but didn't know who to ask.

It couldn't get any clearer than this!!!

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