Need Help with a Firewall!!!

[Pembo]

Can you see the steam coming from this post????

A little background.......
I recently got DSl. I had been using Zone Alarm with my cable modem but my dsl wouldn't work with ZA. So I asked around and bought Norton Internet Security 2004. WHAT A PAIN! It either doesn't work, gives me a message to uninstall/reinstall or won't allow my dsl to work. I've spent TOO many hours today trying to get it to work.

The kicker is to talk to tech support for Norton, it's $29.95. They want you to use their website. But it's a bit too technical for a computer dummy like me. So I can return it and get my money back.

Ok, rant over.

What other firewall can I try???????? Do I really need one?
What happens if I don't use one????

Thank you tech people!

 

[my3kids]

Do you have windows XP? It comes with a firewall, although you have to enable it. If you use the find feature and hunt for firewall, it will give instructions on how to turn it on. I don't know anything about DSL, but with a cable modem, yes, yes, a thousand times yes, you need a firewall.

 

[Pembo]

Thanks my3kids! I had no idea that XP had a built-in firewall. I just enabled it! Is it enough though?

 

[Dan Murphy]

A few links, Pem. I have to ask though, why would your modem not work with ZA??

http://store.www5.zonelabs.master.com/texis/master/search/?q=dsl

http://www.andyrathbone.com/tips/twoway.html

 

[mtemm]

how do I enable my firewall on xp? where the heck is the find feature for it?

 

[mtemm]

never mind, I figured it out. thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/networking/icf.asp

 

[Alex]

With DSL or Cable for that matter you are FAR FAR FAR better off with a hardware firewall. It takes the load off of your machine, is MUCH faster. It enables you to share the connection among other computers if you want to. Here's a good example at Amazon for $40.00.

Linksys firewall

 

[jfulcer]

I second Alex's suggestion. For $40 it's WORTH it.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by Alex
With DSL or Cable for that matter you are FAR FAR FAR better off with a hardware firewall. It takes the load off of your machine, is MUCH faster. It enables you to share the connection among other computers if you want to. Here's a good example at Amazon for $40.00.

Linksys firewall

I agree. Even if you only use one connection it's still better than using a software firewall.

In fact, I use both.

I use Norton Internet Security and a Linksys Router (we have 4 computers on it).

The advantage to using a software firewall is that while it really doesn't help block unwanted incoming traffic (the hardware router does that), it helps catch rogue software from "phoning home" (so to speak).

The disadvantage to using a software firewall is that sometimes it blocks certain browser functions. When I run into this and it's something that I want to see, it's easy to disable the software firewall and enable it afterward.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I too use both, Netgear router and ZA Pro. Never a problem, and it zips along fine.