As you are finding, networking and its security are complex topics for
which there is no simple easy user friendly answer that it seems you are
looking for. Setting up good enough security is completely a matter of
trade offs. Professionals that know all the answers to your questions,
get paid well because it is not a simple subject.
You probably should go down to a good bookstore and browse some books or
browse help sections on the web in order to get a background
understanding of home networking and its security and then we could help
you make your "trade off" security decisions.
It would take a long time to type out real answers to all questions/
issues you raise below: It's already been done better in books and in
online help sites
Take a good look at some of the links on the 1st page of google search
on "Home Networking" and secondly on "Home Networking Security"
db.
RLeeSimon wrote:
Sorry to reveal my ignorance so blatantly, but what is "properly forwarded
file sharing ports past your firewalls" and how (in simple terms for a
dolt=me) do I know or do it?
Also, what is the actual fundamental difference between a hardware and
software firewall? Is it simply a matter of the former one being etched on
a rom in the router while the latter being on the disk, or is there some
qualitative difference otherwise? Are there other differences in hardware
firewalls between devices or brands? My router is Linksys WRT150N.
Are there conflicts between coexisting hardware and software firewalls?
You should know Linksys support, when I called them complaining I couldn't
transfer files between my laptop and desktop while the internet worked fine,
told me to shut off the 2 software firewalls with which it worked fine.
They said the software firewalls are not needed unless I take the laptop
elsewhere. What confuses me it whether the laptop, while connected to the
desktop via the wifi router, is protected from external wifi trying to
connect to the laptop's access point and thereby getting into the laptop's
file system set to share with the WPA encrypted network or what?
I don't understand the "uses no resources" since I see quite a nice
footprint for both the zonealarmfree and the pctoolsprofree firewalls when
they run.
On my Linksys, to allow my voip phone modem to run behind the router, they
had me disable DMZ. I sure wish I knew more about that too!
As you advise, I have firewall software in the ready for any travel with the
laptop.
I wish I were more clear on these points. Thanks Tony for the good words!!
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony B [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 10:50 PM
To: RLeeSimon
Subject: Re: firewall ...hard or what?
Maybe not, assuming you never travel. But it uses no resources, so why not?
OH WAIT. I didn't see you use the words "file sharing" earlier. Next to
falling for phishing scams, this is the most dangerous activity you can do
these days. The question is: Have you properly forwarded file sharing ports
past your firewalls? This has to be done from the router on down. Simply
turning off all your firewalls is not an option IMHO if you're file sharing.
On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 7:01 PM, RLeeSimon <[email protected]> wrote:
Question is do I even need that? I suspect the desktop being behind
the router but wired is protected and the wifi to my laptop is behind
the router and also protected ...waddoIneed a software firewall for,
then? I am not trying to be facetious...
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony B [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: firewall ...hard or what?
The built-in Windows firewall suffices for 95% of users. Just turn
_it_ on.
On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 3:38 PM, RLeeSimon <[email protected]> wrote:
I have a new Linksys Router with, of course, their built in firewall.
BEHIND it is my desktop computer. Also, I use my laptop to it
wirelessly. WPA encryption is enabled. Do I need a software firewall
at all ? I have PCToolsPro on my desktop computer which causes some
misery. I have ZoneAlarm on my laptop which causes some more misery.
My internet connection sharing worked ok but my network would not do
fileshare or much else with all that going. With it shut off, bingo,
everything works! Am I ok this way or what? If not, why? TIA!!
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