Hardware and software firewall?

Warpy · Oct 17, 2004, 04:14 PM

If you have a hardware firewall, do you still need to use a software firewall and if so why?

Thanks

Necrosis · Oct 17, 2004, 04:35 PM

Very simple.

I use it to be able to control what is coming in/out on the fly. I've stopped using Zone Alarm Pro because it has "issues" with SP2. Now I'm using McAfee's Desktop firewall..very simple, and works great!!

[hobo]eclipse · Oct 17, 2004, 04:58 PM

I've got three rigs here runnin off a cable connection, It's a BEFSR41 4-port linksys router w up to date firmware and hardware firewall between the CPU's n the Modem, no anti virus software installed, no software firewalls, XP firewall is off. I have never had a virus of any kind. Only annoying Spyware n crap. So my 2 cents is, if ya got a router w/ a firewall yer prolly ok unless you got TOP SECRET bussiness!

Matth · Oct 17, 2004, 08:47 PM

A NAT router is excellent at dealing with unrequested incoming junk, but it doesn't know if outgoing connections are your browser, a trojan, a piece of spyware etc.

Actually, some routers can pin it down further, so that ONLY certain types of traffic will be allowed, but that still doesnt rule out the same kind of traffic from the "wrong" application.

If you are router firewalled, the router will take care of the probes and junk which would be logged as "attack detection" by a software firewall, so it provides good incoming protection - generally covering the same ground as the standard Windows firewall

JAYAR · Oct 18, 2004, 02:14 AM

A router is all I need, a software firewall is just added junk to have during startup.

Warpy · Oct 18, 2004, 02:58 AM

so a software firewall is not required then?

***craig5320*** · Oct 18, 2004, 12:25 PM

I have a hardware firewall in my router but just leave SP2's Firewall on, so I can see which apps are trying to get net access, you'd prolly be ok without the software one as long as you know you can keep clear or spyware and viruses.

dipstick · Oct 20, 2004, 02:45 AM

If you have a true hardware firewall then you dont need a software one. But I would still run one with a basic NAT router. I dont run a software firewall myself.

starfury6 · Oct 20, 2004, 07:41 AM

I'm still not sure I trust M$ Windows Firewall, I tend to disable it and use Sygate Personal Firewall, it's free and very easy to set up and does indeed allow easy 'on the fly' blocking.

http://www.sygate.com/

I haven't had any experience of hardware firewalling yet, I assume they are 'controlled' by software anyway are they? Guess I'll find out, I'm planning on an nforce4 socket 939 system in the new year.

Oct 17, 2004, 04:14 PM	#1
Warpy DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,761 Rep Power: 0	Hardware and software firewall? If you have a hardware firewall, do you still need to use a software firewall and if so why? Thanks __________________ The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Oct 18, 2004, 02:58 AM	Thread Starter #6
Warpy DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,761 Rep Power: 0	so a software firewall is not required then? __________________ The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Oct 18, 2004, 12:25 PM	#7
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,579 Rep Power: 445 System Specs	I have a hardware firewall in my router but just leave SP2's Firewall on, so I can see which apps are trying to get net access, you'd prolly be ok without the software one as long as you know you can keep clear or spyware and viruses. __________________ HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Oct 20, 2004, 07:41 AM	#9
starfury6 Dark Jedi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 334 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I'm still not sure I trust M$ Windows Firewall, I tend to disable it and use Sygate Personal Firewall, it's free and very easy to set up and does indeed allow easy 'on the fly' blocking. http://www.sygate.com/ I haven't had any experience of hardware firewalling yet, I assume they are 'controlled' by software anyway are they? Guess I'll find out, I'm planning on an nforce4 socket 939 system in the new year. __________________ [color=DeepSkyBlue][/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue] Intel Q6600 / Dual 8800 GTS 512/ Asus Striker II Formula OCZ 4GB DDR2 1066 / Scythe Ninja / Hyper 880w 3 x Maxtor 750GB total SATAII / LG Multi Blu[/color]

Oct 17, 2004, 04:35 PM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Very simple. I use it to be able to control what is coming in/out on the fly. I've stopped using Zone Alarm Pro because it has "issues" with SP2. Now I'm using McAfee's Desktop firewall..very simple, and works great!!

Oct 17, 2004, 04:58 PM	#3
[hobo]eclipse ...just bummin 'round Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,907 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	I've got three rigs here runnin off a cable connection, It's a BEFSR41 4-port linksys router w up to date firmware and hardware firewall between the CPU's n the Modem, no anti virus software installed, no software firewalls, XP firewall is off. I have never had a virus of any kind. Only annoying Spyware n crap. So my 2 cents is, if ya got a router w/ a firewall yer prolly ok unless you got TOP SECRET bussiness!

Oct 17, 2004, 08:47 PM	#4
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	A NAT router is excellent at dealing with unrequested incoming junk, but it doesn't know if outgoing connections are your browser, a trojan, a piece of spyware etc. Actually, some routers can pin it down further, so that ONLY certain types of traffic will be allowed, but that still doesnt rule out the same kind of traffic from the "wrong" application. If you are router firewalled, the router will take care of the probes and junk which would be logged as "attack detection" by a software firewall, so it provides good incoming protection - generally covering the same ground as the standard Windows firewall

Oct 18, 2004, 02:14 AM	#5
JAYAR DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	A router is all I need, a software firewall is just added junk to have during startup.

Oct 20, 2004, 02:45 AM	#8
dipstick HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,609 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	If you have a true hardware firewall then you dont need a software one. But I would still run one with a basic NAT router. I dont run a software firewall myself.