Assumming the O/S is Microsoft is it possible to run without having a Firewall and stay clean.(hard or soft)

Maybe, but you need a lot of luck. :-)

Today, you can say, you need Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Firewall Software on an O/S, whatever it is.
But the most viruses is made for the Microsoft O/S, because most computers do run Windows.

I tried to run a test pc without any Antivirus, Anti-Spyware and Firewall Software and it tooks round about 30 seconds and it had been infected with 4 viruses and some spyware.

Paul

Agreed;
I think I read that the average time for an unprotected PC today was 8 minutes.

Of course if you are savy you might last a lot longer. I wouldn't take that chance though.

Antivurus-firewall-antispyware programs are a must have. Also lockdown your browser security settings.

Then read and educate yourself on practices.

Properly educated and protected you can do almost anything. Otherwise you're totally screwed.

The most secure version of Microsoft Windows is Vista. Also the biggest pain. But you still need additional programs and common sense.

No matter what you use you need levels of security including locking down your browser settings.

No easy answers here

>> But you still need additional programs and common sense. <<

Yes that's often the missing component, common sense. The trouble with common sense is that's not so common.

Put it another way, the only way to run a computer without a firewall and be sure to stay clean is not to connect it to the Internet at all.

Stuart

Ok guys. Here's the reason I asked. On another non-computing site I go to some people ask computer related questions. Occasionaly a Firewall question pops up and the resident computer guru rants and raves about how much trouble Firewalls are. He states that if the computer is configured correctly no Firewall is required. Now I assume he means if Microsoft is the O/S then you don't use the Administration/root setting. You setup a user account much like linux. Would that be correct?

I think it isn't correct, because Microsoft has a "PATCH-DAY" every month to correct security problems.
So a lot of services run with administrator rights.
If there is a security hole in such service, at this point, it doesn't matter what rights the user you are working with has. the service is working with service rights.

A firewall helps you to configure, which ports are opened to the local network and to the internet as well.
Microsoft normally starts all services independent of whether they are needed or not.
These services, e.g. file and printer sharing, is opened for the whole world.

Common home users do not share services through the internet, so the filewall can be configured to close all ports or open the needed ports for only the local network.

Antivirus and Anti-Spyware Tools are self explaining, I think.

Paul

Occasionaly a Firewall question pops up and the resident computer guru rants and raves about how much trouble Firewalls are. He states that if the computer is configured correctly no Firewall is required

I guess to the uninitiated or unknowing, a firewall may very well seem like a lot of trouble. However, in today's world, I wouldn't be caught dead without one between my home network and the internet.

In fact, I have two.

The SOHO router that came with my DSL service (it's a combo device....Firewall, router, wireless AP) basically came out of the box preconfigured to block everything. Most SOHO routers with firewall software built into them are. In order to allow remote access, I had to go in and do a couple of port forwards. But other than that, I haven't had to touch it or configure anything. Does that sound like a lot of "trouble" to you?

My second firewall is an OpenBSD box and yes, that takes knowhow to configure. But I'm a professional and have been working with computers and networking for many years. A firewall like that is most definately not for someone who isn't familiar with the OS. Oh and just FYI, I didn't configure the OpenBSD firewall because I'm paranoid or under any unusual amount of attacks. I did it because I wanted to learn more about the OS and the firewall capabilities built into it.

If you were to survey all the businesses in the world that have external (internet) access, I suspect you would find that all of them run a firewall. What does that tell you?

Just for the sake of clarity folks I would like to point out that the phrase "common sense" is a misnomer. There's nothing "common" about good sense...if it were "common" wouldn't everyone have it? LOL