Firewalls.

[Betheny]

How important are they, why do you need one, and if you use a router or a hub.. should you have one on your computer?

[Bestatte]

In general, people who use an old-fashioned dial-up connection wouldn't need a firewall, because hack scripts don't target the IP addresses that dial-ups use. It doesn't mean you won't get hacked, it just means you're much less likely to have hack attempts targetted toward you.

If you have DSL or Cable, you absolutely positively should have a firewall, whether a hardware or software type. If you're connected to a network (multiple computers running on the same DSL or Cable) it's probably best to have a hardware firewall router/type thingie.

Independant PCs can generally use software firewall programs without much worry. I use Black Ice, which has certain security issues, but also has certain security benefits that others don't have. There's a freeware one on the internet, the name escapes me at the moment, but I've heard it's terrific. Both Norton and McAfee have security packages, and I would suggest that if you're going to use one of them as a firewall, you use the entire package.

A lot of norton things just plain aren't compatible with a lot of McAfee things, so you're better off sticking to one brand or the other for all security, if you're going to pick from these two.

My Black Ice seems to work with pretty much anything, though I did have a problem with compatibility with the McAfee anti-virus program that came with my computer. Easy solution: I disabled my anti-virus program and now use Housecall online. This requires user responsibility though. You can't accept mail from anyone you don't know, you can't accept file attachments unless you are sure the sender has already virus-checked it. And though you can download executable files from the internet, you can't open them without first sending them through housecall, manually.

It also means no Kazaa, no mp3s, no warez. Which is fine for me, since I only install legit programs in my computer and register them anyway (except shareware from official sources such as a legacy copy of Zmud, from the Zuggsoft website).

But yes, in today's world of internet hacking, firewalls are one of a few steps you need to take to ensure that someone isn't peeking at your encrypted personal information about you, decoding it, and using it to steal your identity.

[Tsa`ah]

Zone alarm from zone labs. The free ware version is adequate for most home users and it's extremely easy to use. You just install it and it will ask permission anytime something on your PC tries to access the internet and it will alert you each time something tries to access your PC from the internet.

If you're connected by dial up for lengthy periods of time, use a firewall. Aol dial-up users are probably exempt from that. It's about the only thing AOL is good for.

[Tendarian]

I use Sygate personal firewall and it was free too. Seems to work pretty good altho i wouldnt really know the difference either way.

[Betheny]

Would a router/hub for a DSL line be considered a hardware-type firewall?

[draconis nematoda]

Originally posted by Maimara
Would a router/hub for a DSL line be considered a hardware-type firewall?

Most dsl router/hubs have their own firewall.

Ray

[Edited on 9-19-2003 by draconis nematoda]

[Betheny]

Yeah, the reason I'm wondering is those little signature things that Klaive used to use... my entire IP would show up, as well as my carrier and my browser type and version. I was talking to someone who said that at least part of the IP should be masked. I know jack about computer security...

[imported_Kranar]

That I.P. address wasn't a hack and even if you had a firewall you'd still see that.

You and only you saw that, it wasn't logged anywhere, it didn't go to anyone, and no one but the staff of this BBS has access to any of that info.

Not to mention that info is useless anyways.

[Betheny]

Okay, I get it. :) Thanks. I was just not sure if it was indicative of a security problem with my setup.

[Bestatte]

No, that wasn't a hack at all. My concern with that sig thing was that whatever program allowed it to show me what my own IP address was, might be capable of knowing what it was as well.

Not that the person using the program would have access to the info, but rather that the program itself had access to it. Being the paranoid person that I am, I try to take precautions. When someone or something else is telling me information about me, it just creeps me out.

[Betheny]

The thing was created to be annoying and cause problems. I'm glad it's removed. It just saves a lot of time wondering about it.