[mreddys10]

Hi,
I am running windows XP home on my laptop and these are the security softwares i use:
AVG Free
AVG antispyware free edition
Spyware Terminator (with real-time protection)
Spybot S&D
SpywareBlaster
BitDefender (on-demand scanner)
Windows firewall

My question is, after all this, do i need to use a firewall? My laptop is connected to the internet through a router. Is the combo of router and windows firewall enough? I only ask this because the other computer on this network (i.e. connected to the same router) is infected with a lot of spyware and virus.

If i do need a firewall, which one would u guys recommend?

[Benny Bumble]

Hi, It's my understanding that you do not need a firewall, IF & that's a big if, it's contained within the router & in that case it (the computer's) should be explicitly turned off! Check "WWW.AskBobRankin.com" What mdl & mfr router do you have?
Ben

[Benny Bumble]

Hi, Here's Rankin's treatise on the firewall question. You might also look into the session about "too many spyware" on his site.

http://askbobrankin.com/do_i_need_a_firewall.html

[Benny Bumble]

Hi, Me again, here's that other link in case you need it!
Ben

http://askbobrankin.com/too_many_spyware_scanners.html

[lunarlander]

Even if you do have a router, you still need a software firewall. Because a) other computers on the network may get hacked and attack your computer b) trojans and spyware and backdoors can land on your PC and want to connect home; outbound protection of a software firewall on the PC can stop those. c) you may be on a wireless LAN, and if it is unencrypted ( a very unwise move) others can connect to your network and attack your PCs. d) If yours is a laptop and you travel with it and use Hotspots, you definitely need a firewall.

The best security advise is to have layers of protection, and a software firewall is one such layer. If one layer of protection is bypassed or fails, you have yet another layer to protect you.

There are a number of free firewalls such as ZoneAlarm free, Comodo, PC Tools Firewall Plus.

[mreddys10]

hi benny bumble......i have a d-link router. although i should've mentioned that i did get a software with the router, after installation, the speed dropped dramatically. so, i just use it more like a splitter, where i plug in the incoming LAN (from the modem) into port 1, and the outgoing LAN cables into 2 and 3. so, dont know if the router's hardware firewall is actually working.

As for the spyware issue, i know it sounds like i have a lot of antispyware softwares, but the thing is that only spyware terminator and spybot s&d are actually working in the background. i use both because one of them always misses a few threats (not 'cookies' kind of threats, but trojans) while the other detects them. As for the on-demand scanners, i just use them when i suspect an infection.

Thanks for all the info though . Appreciate it

So, can anyone recommend a good firewall in my situation (if u still think i need one that is )? and i've tried comodo v2, had it for a long time, but had huge problems installing v3 (had to do a system restore in safe mode because of it).....

[lunarlander]

If you are not using the internet/Wan jack of your router, then you're losing the NAT capability.

Since you have used comodo before, then you can stick with it, it is pretty well regarded around here. Version 2 is still available for download.

[mreddys10]

ok....thanks for the help. hope this wasn't a waste of ur time