01-19-2005, 09:20 PM | #1 (permalink) |
Psycho
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Do I need a software firewall with a wireless router?
I've heard this is true since they have an internal hardware firewall but do they stop unauthorized incoming AND outgoing traffic and how do they determine whether it's authorized or not? Is there something to look for in the router specs?
TIA. |
01-20-2005, 12:17 AM | #2 (permalink) |
paranoid
Location: The Netherlands
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The router specs might mention a NAT firewall.
Depending on the setting of this firewall, it could disallow any connections NOT initiated from your network. most (all?) routers do not block traffic from within by default. Try the configuration of your router (usually a webpage, see the manual) and see what options it has. I suggest using a software firewall anyway, especially for outbound traffic.
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"Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints) |
01-20-2005, 01:53 AM | #4 (permalink) |
Adequate
Location: In my angry-dome.
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Router firewalls will stop most non-DoS incoming attacks.
On the other hand, few soho firewalls do anything whatsoever to slow unauthorized outoing traffic without extensive configuration by you, and many aren't powerful enough to be effective for this purpose. This means once on your system, malware has free access to the net. SP2 doesn't help in this regard. Software firewalls are invaluable for identifying these unexpected outgoing connections and forcing them to ask permission. |
01-20-2005, 09:50 AM | #7 (permalink) |
Talk nerdy to me
Location: Flint, MI
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I use Zone Alarm on mine and it works pretty good. Like cyrnel said, it lets you know what is trying to access the web from your PC if you have it set up correctly.
I know there are other free firewalls out there, but that is the one I use and I have had pretty good luck with it.
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I reject your reality, and substitute my own -- Adam Savage |
Tags |
firewall, router, software, wireless |
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