OK, Jane . . . 1. For your home network, the proxy server is not a factor to consider (you don't have one) and you shouldn't have that preference checked. You will find proxy servers come into play with larger corporate based networks.
2. Your MacSense router, by the shear nature of how a router functions, does provide rudimentary firewall protection without you having to configure a thing, assuming that Network Address Translation (NAT) is on which I assume it is when you have more than one computer sharing a single public IP address. 3. Your pc is not a sitting duck, having file sharing ON on your Macs doesn't give them added protection, and OS X does have a built-in firewall which will offer you no additional protection until you configure it with something like Brickhouse. Your network is fine the way it is unless you are overly cautious or overly fearful. If you fit that criteria, configure the firewall within your router (you will probably need help) and don't buy a single thing. The router protects both your pc and your Mac. Ward Oldham on 10/30/2002 3:04 PM, Jane25345 at aol.com at Jane25345 at aol.com wrote: > Okay...the proxy server is needed if you connect to the Internet through a > network. > > That reminds me to ask you all..... > > What kind of firewall do we need for a home network of Macs and PCs? > > I have an Xsense MIH v120 router all my computers are hard-wired to. The > router is the next in line after the DSL modem, and then come my computers. > It's not one of the newer routers with a lot of built-in firewall protection. > > Since I have DSL, which is on 24/7, I feel as though my PC is a sitting duck. > It needs some kind of firewall protection badly. > > My Macs are a bit better off, because I have them cordoned off using File > Sharing under OS 9.2.2. > > I understand that OS X has a built in firewall...not sure how that works yet. > Is this enough, though? Or is additional firewall protection needed even for > OS X? > > And, anyway, there's still the problem of protecting the PC. > > Lastly, what do the folks with Airport do for a firewall? > > What do you all recommend? Norton System Works for the PC? Something else for > the Macs? > > Any advice would be appreciated. > > Jane > > > The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will be November 26 > For more information, see <http://www.aye.net/~lcs>. A calendar of > activities is at <http://www.calsnet.net/macusers>. > The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will be November 26 For more information, see <http://www.aye.net/~lcs>. A calendar of activities is at <http://www.calsnet.net/macusers>.
