Comments on: Security without Firewalls discussion http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/ A technology blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:29:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jayse http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-18299 Jayse Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:25:03 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-18299 I agree with comment 3, I haven't used a Firewall since I found out how much Norton is total crapware and removed it. If you alittle common sense and there is no need for one on your PC, it's just a waste of resources and increases boot time. I agree with comment 3, I haven’t used a Firewall since I found out how much Norton is total crapware and removed it. If you alittle common sense and there is no need for one on your PC, it’s just a waste of resources and increases boot time.

]]> By: raky http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17829 raky Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:10:24 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17829 i'm not using a PFW but i'm using my routers firewall. if you know how to config your windows xp system (disabling unused services, netbios blah blah) (and use your pc with limited access and only use administrator privileges when needed) you are on the right way. i’m not using a PFW but i’m using my routers firewall.
if you know how to config your windows xp system (disabling unused services, netbios blah blah) (and use your pc with limited access and only use administrator privileges when needed) you are on the right way.

]]> By: Tim http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17715 Tim Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:34:20 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17715 I just keep my fingers crossed. So far it ain't working. I just keep my fingers crossed. So far it ain’t working.

]]> By: Yonoz http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17704 Yonoz Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:05:25 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17704 I haven't used a firewall in a few years on my personal machines, nor have I put one on my parents' machine (Windows XP). However, I think users who do not bother keeping up with the latest vulnerabilities and are do not know how to shut down all services but the ones they require (very few in my parents' case, for example) should use a friendly one. Furthermore, none of my machines have any sensitive data on them (I use a bootable USB key for home banking) - IMO machines carrying sensitive data should be kept off the internet if possible. I think that these days the main attack vectors are human based - droppers on malicious web sites, executables spread via mail/p2p, etc. If you instruct the user about safe web practices and set up the machine well I see no need for a firewall, which will only confuse them with more pop-ups - which only serve to encourage them to OK every notification that comes up. I haven’t used a firewall in a few years on my personal machines, nor have I put one on my parents’ machine (Windows XP). However, I think users who do not bother keeping up with the latest vulnerabilities and are do not know how to shut down all services but the ones they require (very few in my parents’ case, for example) should use a friendly one. Furthermore, none of my machines have any sensitive data on them (I use a bootable USB key for home banking) – IMO machines carrying sensitive data should be kept off the internet if possible.
I think that these days the main attack vectors are human based – droppers on malicious web sites, executables spread via mail/p2p, etc. If you instruct the user about safe web practices and set up the machine well I see no need for a firewall, which will only confuse them with more pop-ups – which only serve to encourage them to OK every notification that comes up.

]]> By: Derrill http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17657 Derrill Tue, 06 Jun 2006 04:49:26 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17657 I do use my routers firewall, but I haven't used a software firewall since my dial-up days. I do use my routers firewall, but I haven’t used a software firewall since my dial-up days.

]]> By: Max http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17503 Max Mon, 05 Jun 2006 20:36:10 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/06/05/security-without-firewalls-discussion/#comment-17503 I use Norton Firewall on my laptop and I got it only because I didn't know about open-source software and couldn't find a free good firewall. As soon as my Norton expires, I'm going to download a free firewall that I find somewhere. On my other PC, I use ZoneAlarm. I'm going to switch soon because I heard bad things about it. I don't use a Windows Firewall because it seems like it doesn't do much for some reason. I just don't trust it. I use Norton Firewall on my laptop and I got it only because I didn’t know about open-source software and couldn’t find a free good firewall. As soon as my Norton expires, I’m going to download a free firewall that I find somewhere.

On my other PC, I use ZoneAlarm. I’m going to switch soon because I heard bad things about it.

I don’t use a Windows Firewall because it seems like it doesn’t do much for some reason. I just don’t trust it.

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