You lot have ruined my antivirus!!!!!!!!!!!

Rex_Mundi

If anyone is in any doubt as to wether a firewall is essential. Try this.
http://www.digitmag.co.uk/features/index.cfm?FeatureID=1196

alexj2002

Heh I sense paranoia. Firewalls are not crucial but they help if you're not very pc savy.

Disagree - PC savviness doesn't come into it. The fact is that it doesn't depend on if your clever enough to avoid the stuff like with viruses (but even then without AV you don't know about anything until it's too late) it depends on if your IP address is visable. A firewall blocks access to your IP. Else a hacker has free access to your PC.

LincsLad_3

Heh I sense paranoia. Firewalls are not crucial but they help if you're not very pc savy.

Nothing to do with paranoia. I would disagree too: I think that a firewall IS crucial in this day and age.

I consider myself reasonably "pc savy" [sic] and I wouldn't go online without one.

Let me ask the question another way - who here considers them selves to be even slightly "pc savy" and operates without any kind of firewall?? Identify yourselves !!

;D

Pat__3

I'm not that PC savvy, but wouldn't go online without a firewall or anti-virus stuff on.

There has been enough about viruses on the news and that, people should be aware.

dougk_2

Hence why Windows XP XP2 has a firewall built in and tells you about it when you upgrade and also suggests to automatically use windows update.

Also why Microsoft has a beta release of anti spyware and virus software available!

So to everyone - install a firewall and anti-virus software and/or upgrade to windows XP SP2.

Spyware and virus not only affect you they infect others and cause problems on the internet... no antivirus or firewall is like driving without a seatbelt and without insurance!!!!!

LincsLad_3

The XP SP2 firewall really is not worth the effort - security holes in it have already been discovered. I would strongly advise installing a third-party product such as ZoneAlarm or Kerio and disabling the Microsoft version.

Using security products from Microsoft is like buying a computer from PC World! ::) IMO !

StrikeEagle

Ye I understand what you're saying, but I still don't think everyone needs one.

I'm pretty sure most people need a firewall to stop trojans which they install themselves by mistake.

'A firewall blocks access to your IP. Else a hacker has free access to your PC.'

Sure if they find a listening port on ur pc which is accepting connections, but for that to happen you have to have an open port.

'If anyone is in any doubt as to wether a firewall is essential. Try this.
http://www.digitmag.co.uk/features/index.cfm?FeatureID=1196 '

Everyone slates m$, but they normally have the fix before the virus comes along. 20minutes for a pc to be attacked is very slow. I would say it is down to a couple of minutes, but if the port it wants to connect to isnt listening...it cant do jack squat.

And regarding the MS SP2 firewall, it's obviously better than the original ICF since it runs at the TCP level (app layer) rather than at the IP layer so you cant do IP Spoofing any more.

Basically I feel that it's best to track down your listening ports, close them, and then surely you dont need the firewall since nothing is accepting incoming connections?

LincsLad_3

So are you saying that you do not operate from behind a firewall Strike Eagle?

StrikeEagle

I have no option atm. Behind Uni Firewall.

But I have 4 computers elsewhere that have no protection other than antivirus + automatic microsoft updates.

Toxteth_OGrady

IMHO best first layer defence is stealthing, rather than just closing, all ports thru a h/w firewall using DMZ/NAT to an unused intranet IP.

8)

TOG