Windows firewall

  • Thread starter Thread starter Richard Oliver
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Richard Oliver

How effective is windows firewall ?
I am running Win XP home edition.

Your advice appreciated. Richard
 
How effective is windows firewall ?
I am running Win XP home edition.

Your advice appreciated. Richard
Click to expand...
It's better than nothing. That's the best one can say.
 
How effective is windows firewall ?
I am running Win XP home edition.

Your advice appreciated. Richard
Click to expand...

It's worse than nothing because you believe it's protecting you and you
have no proof that it's properly configured. In most cases, vendors that
you buy your PC from created exceptions (holes) that let things through,
not to mention that programs can create exceptions (holes) without you
knowing about it.

Your cheapest protection is a cheap NAT Router (Linksys, DLink, Netgear)
that blocks unsolicited inbound connections - what the Windows Firewall
should be doing.

--

Leythos - (e-mail address removed) (remove 999 to email me)

Fight exposing kids to porn, complain about sites like PCBUTTS 1.COM
that create filth and put it on the web for any kid to see: Just take a
look at some of the FILTH he's created and put on his website:
http://forums.speedguide.net/archive/index.php/t-223485.html all exposed
to children (the link I've include does not directly display his filth).
You can find the same information by googling for 'PCBUTTS1' and
'exposed to kids'.
 
If you are smart about your browsing habits and combine it with a good
anti-virus and anti-spyware program, it works well enough. All I use
on my home computers, but they are also behind a router for even more
protection.
 
Your cheapest protection is a cheap NAT Router (Linksys, DLink, Netgear)
that blocks unsolicited inbound connections - what the Windows Firewall
should be doing.
Click to expand...

What NAT Router would you recommend for a Windows XP/Linux box with
cable broadband Internet?
 
What NAT Router would you recommend for a Windows XP/Linux box with
cable broadband Internet?
Click to expand...

Netgear: FSV-318
D-Link: DFL-700

--

Leythos - (e-mail address removed) (remove 999 to email me)

Fight exposing kids to porn, complain about sites like PCBUTTS 1.COM
that create filth and put it on the web for any kid to see: Just take a
look at some of the FILTH he's created and put on his website:
http://forums.speedguide.net/archive/index.php/t-223485.html all exposed
to children (the link I've include does not directly display his filth).
You can find the same information by googling for 'PCBUTTS1' and
'exposed to kids'.
 
Leythos said:
Netgear: FSV-318
D-Link: DFL-700
Click to expand...

The Netgear WGR 614 is a quite inexpensive four port router that works very
well for me. It offers wireless "G" support, which can be disabled if not
needed to further lower one's profile.
 
The Netgear WGR 614 is a quite inexpensive four port router that works very
well for me. It offers wireless "G" support, which can be disabled if not
needed to further lower one's profile.
Click to expand...

I got a Linksys WRT54GS at Sam's about a year ago, same specs.
Rock solid. Was about $75 best I remember.

MM
 
Thanks Guys. I appreciate the advise.
Click to expand...

A lot of routers arrive with the admin pw set to a widely-known default. Set it to something else as
soon as you plug the thing in.
 
Thanks Guys. I appreciate the advise.
Click to expand...

The two I mentioned come as close to being Firewalls as you can get for
a reasonable price, the two they mention are just simple NAT routers.

If you want wireless then get an Access Point and add it to the network.

--

Leythos - (e-mail address removed) (remove 999 to email me)

Fight exposing kids to porn, complain about sites like PCBUTTS 1.COM
that create filth and put it on the web for any kid to see: Just take a
look at some of the FILTH he's created and put on his website:
http://forums.speedguide.net/archive/index.php/t-223485.html all exposed
to children (the link I've include does not directly display his filth).
You can find the same information by googling for 'PCBUTTS1' and
'exposed to kids'.
 
Wow one sure gets value for money from this group---
Thank you all for your input,Richard
 
Netgear: FVS-318
D-Link: DFL-700
Click to expand...
The two I mentioned come as close to being Firewalls as you can get for
a reasonable price, the two they mention are just simple NAT routers.
Click to expand...

Good point. The Netgear FVS318 looks like a great appliance - available
from Amazon.com for as low as $65.
 
A lot of routers arrive with the admin pw set to a widely-known default. Set it to something else as
soon as you plug the thing in.
Click to expand...


Yes, any word but the highly secret "password."
 
The two I mentioned come as close to being Firewalls as you can get for
a reasonable price, the two they mention are just simple NAT routers.

If you want wireless then get an Access Point and add it to the network.
Click to expand...


I understand the difference. That's a good point. Thanks again.
 
Yes, any word but the highly secret "password."
Click to expand...
FWIW I use friends first names and year of birth; 19friendsfirstname47 for
instance. Easy to remember, hard for a stranger to guess.
 
I understand the difference. That's a good point. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I guess I don't.

ShieldsUp shows everything on my hardwired systems as bulletproof with
just the LinkSys. Although I have XP firewall on with my XP box, two Win
98 SE boxes have only the LinkSys, no sofware firewalls at all. Have
also run all three thorugh the Norton online check, and although they
aren't "stealthed", they pass the tests there, and you know Symantec
would want to sell you something if they can.

I realize that further precautions are necessary for the wireless
aspect.

MM
 
I guess I don't.

ShieldsUp shows everything on my hardwired systems as bulletproof with
just the LinkSys.
Click to expand...

Then start googling for FIREWALL and read up about what a firewall does
and can do - then read about NAT and you will understand that NAT is
just routing of traffic. In a 1:MANY NAT you get the benefit of
unsolicited traffic being rejected, but NAT is just a routing method.

--

Leythos - (e-mail address removed) (remove 999 to email me)

Fight exposing kids to porn, complain about sites like PCBUTTS 1.COM
that create filth and put it on the web for any kid to see: Just take a
look at some of the FILTH he's created and put on his website:
http://forums.speedguide.net/archive/index.php/t-223485.html all exposed
to children (the link I've include does not directly display his filth).
You can find the same information by googling for 'PCBUTTS1' and
'exposed to kids'.
 
I guess I don't.

ShieldsUp shows everything on my hardwired systems as bulletproof with
just the LinkSys.
Click to expand...


And that is fine for your needs. No need wasting money on a more
expensive firewall router.

What the original (sub)post didn't describe was the scenario in which
the device was to be used. In your case, the global dropping of all
unsolicited connections is all you need. In other scenarios where
connections/packets have to be a dropped on a more selective basis the
firewall router would come into its own.


Jim.
 
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