>That generally translates to do you have broadband internet access >usually. Although not 100% true, people avoid hacking 56k for the most >part because it's too hard, the lag just makes it a lot of work fro not >a lot of result. Of course if you have ANY Windblows machines on the >network you should erect a firewall immediately... :).
You might possibly want to put up a firewall to avoid windows machines being hacked, I don't know much about windows, but a *NIX box or a mac (one and the same nowadays, I see) should be fine sitting right out there on the 'net. If you've got a computer that's on the internet but isn't running any services, you don't need a firewall because all your ports are closed anyway. If you're running a services, all your ports are closed besides the one with services on them, and what good do your servers do if you deny most of the internet access to them? You should close up all the ports you don't need, and run secure programs that you do, and then you don't need a firewall. The only circumstance I know of that wants firewalling is: The Mission-Critical machine that you only want your own computers to be able to get to, but you want them to be able to connect from all over the 'net, in which case you firewall it off and tunnel a hole through for your IPSec VPN. *shrug* I believe in making your computer secure instead of hiding it behind a firewall. There's no magic firewall that allows access from good guys but not from crackers, so when you set up that firewall, you have to just pick a large range of IPs to deny from, and if you're denying from all those IPs, how useful is your server? If the computer is not a server, why are there any ports open in the first place? -Tyler -- Compact Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... SPECIAL LIST PRICES - Replacement Apple CDROMs from $19.99, MacOS 8.5 CD $79.99 PPC 5400/200Mhz 16/1.6GB/CD/ENET/L2 $119, 5+ for $99 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Compact Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/compact.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/compact.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
