[Kapustin Yar]

I have bitdefender 11 antivirus and a wireless router I got as part of my earthlink service for making my apt a wireless hotspot. Do I need a firewall too?

[Phantom010]

If your router monitors outgoing and incoming traffic, I guess you don't really need a software firewall. It's really up to you.

[Jason08]

I would say it doesn't hurt to also have a software installed.

[Kapustin Yar]

That's the problem, I don't know what the router is monitoring, if anything at all.

I know the modem is on NAT. I also know the router is being used for connecting my wireless laptop to my dsl desktop.

However I don't get any messages from the router asking if I want to allow this or that.

Should I get a firewall or not?

[Phantom010]

What is your router's make and model?

[Kapustin Yar]

Hi Phantom,

The router is Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router
Model WRT54G2 V1

Modem is ELNK Zyxel P660-R

Thanks again.

[Jason08]

By putting 192.168.1.1 in the web browser should get you into the router (with both the username and password being admin.) There you can see the different security settings on different pages for the router.

[Kapustin Yar]

Here's a screenshot of the security settings.

[lunarlander]

Your Linksys only seems to have NAT, which is sort of a firewall, blocking outside access. But I have seen other Linksys models having SPI ( stateful packet inspection) which is truely a firewall.

The router cannot pop up alerts on your PC asking for you to allow this or that traffic, because it is external to your PC. Only software firewalls can do that, as only they can see what program is running on your PC.

[Kapustin Yar]

Originally Posted by lunarlander

Your Linksys only seems to have NAT, which is sort of a firewall, blocking outside access. But I have seen other Linksys models having SPI ( stateful packet inspection) which is truely a firewall.

The router cannot pop up alerts on your PC asking for you to allow this or that traffic, because it is external to your PC. Only software firewalls can do that, as only they can see what program is running on your PC.

So you're recommending I get a software firewall?

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by Kapustin Yar

So you're recommending I get a software firewall?

I would.

I use Linux, router and have software firewall.

Nothing is perfect. If something manages to get on PC, software firewall may alert you that something is trying to connect to outside world. Router may stop it but you still aren't aware of anything, unless you intend to read all of its logs all the time. (You can usually set it up to e-mail you the logs. I don't do this.)

[Phantom010]

With your type of router, I would get a software firewall as well. Try Online Armor's firewall or Comodo.

[Kapustin Yar]

Okay gang, thanks very much, You're answered my question!

[Jason08]

I, too am in favor of getting a software firewall with your setup.

[Kapustin Yar]

Yes, thank you too Jason!