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#11
Well said dmex!
It is true that most routers have firewall's built in now, but I would still recommend a virus protection unless you have VERY good browsing habits!!
Well said dmex!
It is true that most routers have firewall's built in now, but I would still recommend a virus protection unless you have VERY good browsing habits!!
I use AVG Free 8.0, it gets the job done for me but then again I don't go where I'm not supposed to.
Hello djhallucn8, welcome to Seven Forums!
Have you seen this, at the link below.
Urgent for AVG Users - Vista Forums
Later Ted
I have an average knowledge of Firewalls, but am in a grey area with some of the issues.
Hopefully you could explain your comment in detail.
If a Firewall has inbound and outbound capability (Its the latter that interests me), as does my router, what exactly is the function of the outbound facility?
Assuming, in any given software/hardware firewall, the technique being employed is similar, how would anything be able to get onto a computer, that could then be detected with the same technology when outgoing, but was somehow undetected incoming?
Hi Dave,
A software firewall will usually have both a inbound and outbound filtering, where the hardware firewall usually only has a inbound filter. The software firewall inbound filter is not anywhere near as good as a hardware (router) firewall though.
The outbound filter is used to filter programs, that have already been installed on your computer by you, to be allowed access to the internet or not. A hardware firewall inbound filter cannot filter this.
For example, say you installed a program off of a DVD from your friend that had malware that you did not know about. When that malware tries to access the internet, your software firewall, if properly setup, will block it and ask you for permission to allow it or not.
Hope this helps,
Shawn
Thanks shawn. <well yes and no. If I was using such software on my computer, hopefully my own protection would alert me to it and maybe even get rid of it.
Off hand, I cannot think of any software I have on my computer which would have any reason to access the web.
During my own, amateur but almost continuous, experimenting with MS beta products, I often operate for long periods, due to reinstalls, without any firewall at all. This is through a separate computer with a direct broadband connection. I think it would be safe to say that, over a period of about five years, I don't think I have had any serious attack, or passed one on. The only irritant,no more than that, which I have had, was through spamming mail.
I raised the point deliberately as I earnestly believe that the average user is becoming over neuorotic about malware problems. Of course we must take precautions, however.
Last edited by davehc; 12 Nov 2008 at 13:51.
You're welcome Dave.
I suppose it is a bit redundant to have a software firewall installed with a hardware firewall, but it's better to be safe than sorry later.
Been using the 30 day trial of Kaspersky 2009 and it works fine and dandy, keep meaning to try my bitdefender but haven't had chance yet, maybe tomorrow.
Using ESET Smart Security here, works great. Started with version 3.0.672, moved over to the version 4 beta this morning, so far, so good.