Do i need a firewall

silkyuk9

im using microsoft essentials and i think the windows firewall thats on my XP however, do i need a better firewall than that. if so whats the best to use thats easy enough to deal with. I was thinking about getting Outpost Pro but the reviews say it complicated to use.

Sput2001

How do you get online?

If you're using a router, it's probably got a hardware firewall in-built. If so, make sure it's switched on, and that in conjunction with the Windows firewall should be fine.

m00nie

depends how secure you want to be..

most botnets and rats can bypass windows firewall and a router is hardware and so not enough......

ive always gone by you need 1 AV + 1 firewall + 1 spyware program..

you can get internet suites that cover the firewall and Av but i always use a seperate spyware...

closed

no, windows firewall is fine, your choice of av could be better though, avast free resident + malwarebytes on demand scanner will make your machine run quicker, and give a marginally better detection rate.

Laz123

Zonealarm free is good as it checks incoming and outgoing, which windows firewall doesn't.

Richie-from-the-Boro

The windows firewall is ok, but : -

Windows firewall does in / out and very very much more, but it is a sod [ not intuitive ] to use. There are a couple of programmes free for private use that will re-skin the windows firewall using windows own rules, and making it intuitive. A lightweight one that works well is this one.

The gist of it here

althas

I have windows firewall and the firewall on the router

It is like anything, if the hacker is determined they will get through whatever you have

There are always options like a Yoggie Gatekeeper Pro if you feel like you have to have something dedicated

busenbust

If using Win 7, the default firewall does the job admirably imo /