If you haven't done so yet, it's good time to install a firewall in your PC

**Avery** · 03-07-2007, 06:27 PM

Thank you,sir.I am going to install it.

**TheJimmy** · 03-07-2007, 06:39 PM

Thanks for the heads up...I've been getting an unusual number of trojan finds with AVG in the last few days...activity is definitely picking up

**BlackCrayon** · 03-07-2007, 06:44 PM

i got norton firewall on my pc but not on the girlfriends. is the router firewall not good enough?

**ztik** · 03-07-2007, 06:47 PM

Or you could just not install virus's and use a router

**rowan** · 03-07-2007, 06:48 PM

Don't forget XP SP2 has a built in firewall. I am experienced with networking and have a firewall at the router, but I've left it enabled anyway: apart from the once-off "do you want to allow this program to connect..." dialog for the first time you start ICQ, FTP etc it sits quietly in the background.

**rowan** · 03-07-2007, 06:49 PM

You could also seriously consider not using IE!!!

**Theo** · 03-07-2007, 06:53 PM

BlackCrayon, it helps, but in small degree. This happens because most router firewalls consider outbound traffic from LAN as safe. They are mainly for stopping incoming attacks on ports. Hackers employ various trojans to do their dirty tasks, different approach.

**Theo** · 03-07-2007, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by rowan

You could also seriously consider not using IE!!!

lol that will actually prevent most threats indeed

**Diligent** · 03-07-2007, 09:04 PM

Good call Soul_Rebel!

I've been advocating software firewalls for a long time,
even as complementary to whatever kind of hardware firewall one might have.

**martinsc** · 03-07-2007, 09:06 PM

if you have an extra pc (even an old one) this (http://www.clarkconnect.com/) will take care of all your needs

**tony286** · 03-07-2007, 09:07 PM

thanks, i got the one you recommended

**woj** · 03-07-2007, 10:00 PM

You would have to be crazy not to have antivirus and firewall now a days...

**PHP-CODER-FOR-HIRE** · 03-07-2007, 10:03 PM

Originally posted by ztik

Or you could just not install virus's and use a router

It used to be so, but because newbies had a hard time setting them up to work with uncommon ports, many routers nowadays just forward all the data indiscriminately.

**Theo** · 03-08-2007, 09:52 PM

Thanks guys. Yes, most just do that. A linux option is: http://www.smoothwall.org coming from a company offering some very advanced security solutions.

**Fap** · 03-08-2007, 09:59 PM

Firewalls are for pussies

**lorine** · 03-09-2007, 06:15 AM

Thanks for the heads up.I have a firewall installed,without it my computer would be ruined !

**gimilin** · 03-09-2007, 06:25 AM

I use mathon,that is also very good.

**Ravage** · 03-09-2007, 06:28 AM

Also, if you're using a router, set the gateway to something other than the default IP. It will help to an extent.

**cranki** · 03-09-2007, 06:40 AM

thx for the reminder, been planning to install one for a long time, but laziness... sigh

**kirupai** · 03-09-2007, 06:44 AM

There is so much a software firewall or even a hardware based firewall can do to protect you, I worked as a network defense specialist/vulnerability assessment specialist for 4 years while I was in the military. Best thing to do is practice safe surfing, have a machine patched up to date and be proactive in regards of keeping your machine virus free. A firewall/antivirus are more of a reactive aproach to keeping a computer/network safe, once either of them has been triggered it might be already late and even if a trojan/virus/root kit/etc has been blocked the machine might of already been screwed.

So here are my tips:

-Keep track of logs (a pain but worth if you have sensitve documents you want to keep safeguraded)

-Update patches, firewall and antivirus as often as possible. I cant tell you how many people install any of those things once and they forget about them and wonder why they got infected with something.

-Safe web surfing. This one is hard to explain, just dont go to shady sites or go clicking like crazy on every link you find.

-Backup important files, sure everyone tells you this but there is a reason for it.

-Worse thing you can do is pretend you are safe just because you have a antivirus/firewall installed, there are so many easy ways to avoid those is not even funny.

Most of the malware out there are designed for MASS distribution so they exploit vulnerabilites that are widely available, those are the things programs or websites should be the least worried about. What programs/websites need to be worried about are about targeted or semi-targeted attacks, where a particular software, industry, company is being targeted, but then again the last place you want to go for advise on how to protect your assets is GFY .

Again be proactive about security, being reactive means something already happened and now its time to fix it!

**Theo** · 03-14-2007, 06:27 AM

and proactive among others is monitoring in/out connections

**Sosa** · 03-14-2007, 06:30 AM

Now if all the average surfers would do the same... Would help us out and fuck those damn codec installer cheaters etc.

Damn Spyware and Viruses take alot of money away from us as affiliates. Alot more then most people think.

**hershie** · 03-14-2007, 06:40 AM

If you use Windows XP and have the Windows Firewall on and updated, is that sufficient or is it recommended to switch to one of the 4 you recommend and/or should I add one of the 4 on top of the default Windows one?

Thanks so much for the info.

**Adultnet** · 03-14-2007, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by woj

You would have to be crazy not to have antivirus and firewall now a days...

yeah this is a must.

**Big_Red** · 03-14-2007, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by BlackCrayon

i got norton firewall on my pc but not on the girlfriends. is the router firewall not good enough?

router firewall is about the best way to go. BUT, you must know how to set it up correctly.

a good router, with a software firewall and you are good to go.

**slapass** · 03-14-2007, 07:03 AM

Originally posted by hershie

If you use Windows XP and have the Windows Firewall on and updated, is that sufficient or is it recommended to switch to one of the 4 you recommend and/or should I add one of the 4 on top of the default Windows one?

Thanks so much for the info.

What hershie said....

**LilBro** · 03-14-2007, 07:15 AM

what do u recommend for macbooks???

**Big_Red** · 03-14-2007, 07:17 AM

Originally posted by slapass

What hershie said....

its never good to run two software firewalls at the same time. you will get conflicts.

**hershie** · 03-14-2007, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by Big_Red

its never good to run two software firewalls at the same time. you will get conflicts.

Thanks for the info. Is the Microsoft Windows Firewall a sufficient product or should I switch to one of the 4 recommended in this thread.

**Big_Red** · 03-14-2007, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by hershie

Thanks for the info. Is the Microsoft Windows Firewall a sufficient product or should I switch to one of the 4 recommended in this thread.

let me retract a bit of this statement. i have found that microsoft windows firewall works with a lot of other firewalls. but this is the only firewall i found that works with other firewalls.

**polish_aristocrat** · 11-20-2007, 06:13 AM

Originally posted by slapass

What hershie said....

what slapass said....

If you haven't done so yet, it's good time to install a firewall in your PC

If you haven't done so yet, it's good time to install a firewall in your PC

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