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Hi guys. I'm just wondering. I have a linksys router which has a built in firewall (enabled even) and I also have a software based firewall installed. Is it really nessesary to have a software based firewall when I already have a hardware based one?
Any opinons would be more then appreatiated :)
Got Geek?
I use both. The hardware firewall is certainly more secure than a software one. It does have the same disadvantage that the Windows XP has, no control of outgoing programs. I use the software firewall just to keep control of and to track what program traffic is going out.
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You need both!
Hardward firewall/router will not show ur real ip to the world, and therefore block incoming attacks. It will NOT block outgoing traffic.
That's why you have to have a software firewall. I go with sygate. For me, zone alarm seems like it uses more resources. Software firewall will ask you to allow or block outgoing traffic. So, if a program is sending stuff out without ur permission or without you running it, you can block it! Hope this helps!
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Yeah this info helps alot... As for sygate though I'm not even gonna touch that one. I have a friend thats been being hacked by someone and they keep turning her firewall off... So I'll stick with my norton for now..
thanks ladies and gents
Got Geek?
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Check that your Linksys router has the latest firmware update. Several months ago they released an update for some of their older routers that stealth port 113 and fix a few security problems.
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JackG, brought up a good point about port 133, he always has some good ideas though. If you have not tested your firewall, go to http://www.grc.com/ and run "ShieldsUP".
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Industry stats security in depth is good. SO having to the two firewalls is good though it could bring up some issues.
For the post that said that Hardware firewalls do not block outgoing connections that is not true of all of them.
My cisco pix 506e has default deny all.
I personally only use a hardware firewall. The software would need over head maintance make sure rules are open at 2 spots and there could be two points of failure there. I trust my pix to provide the protection I need.
Though if you where running a linksys or another similiar product I would suggest a software firewall like zonealarm or sysmantecs firewall. Note sysmantecs firewall stops and auto blocks any network scans for a period of 30 minutes which helps ensure the attack that just probed you cnat get any info or get in.
Thats just my 2 cents
Response Number 7 Reply:
You don't need a software firewall when you're behind a NAT router if don't use Internet Explorer or Outlook Express and don't download programs with viruses and/or spyware. A quick visit to mozilla.org takes care of the first condition, but the second is much more difficult. If you can't trust yourself to not download progams unless you know they're clean, run a software firewall.
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