Question:
Would my PC be just as safe with just my router's firewall?
?
2006-10-24 16:22:34 UTC
I have a wireless router, which is basically a hardware firewall along with a purchased software firewall. Would I be just as safe with only the router's firewall? If so, I could get back the resources the software firewall is absorbing.
Five answers:
Lisa M
2006-10-24 16:39:04 UTC
Having router doesn’t mean you can’t be infected by mail attachment or by visiting malicious site – but I am guessing question is: is router sufficient for protecting PC from outside attack similarly as firewall does.



Answer is YES - under few assumptions:



You have disabled router’s “Remote management” in router interface (can be called sometimes as “WAM access” or similar depending on router’s brand and model).



If you want to be able to connect remotely to router you have made very strong user name and password and changed default router connection port.



All ports on your PC are closed (you don’t have in routers setting for instance enabled Universal Plug and Play (UnPnP)



Router will do same job as firewall, drop all not legitimate connection request coming from outside. Only thing which router (as oppose to firewall) is not able to do, is to control outbound requests coming from your PC to Internet potentially made by malwares present on your PC trying to call home. Still NAT routing will be probably less prone to misconfiguration errors than firewall. Unless you feel very knowledgeable and comfortable with handling security issues - ideal scenario: use both! (firewall and router)



PS.

If its wireless router, wireless security is separate issue which can be handled well by router as well as long as you using WPA (and not WEP for instance) for encryption and using EXTREMELY long and stron key.
jack
2006-10-24 16:26:41 UTC
I would say yes. Hardware firewalls are better then software ones. Software firewalls are only as safe as the operating system. Yes you would get back the resources the software firewall is using.
MarQus1
2006-10-24 16:31:05 UTC
Any firewall is only as good as the person who uses the computer. If you are aware not to click "OK" on the various warnings and prompts that appear out of nowhere and not to open unknown attachments, then yes, a hardware firewall will protect you from people trying to penetrate the swiss cheese that is windows.



Toodles
2006-10-24 16:32:23 UTC
you should use both. you can't be to careful.



is that purchased firewall a two-way firewall? if not delete it and get zonealarm. it not only stops stuff from getting in but also stops stuff that made it through from contacting their owners such as spyware.



http://www.zonelabs.com/



the problem with a two-way is that for awhile it will keep you busy trying to decide what programs you want to update themselves and which ones you don't.



it might ask you if it's ok for ArcoRD32.exe to connect to the internet automatically. if you don't know that is adobe acrobat reader trying to look on the web for an updated version you will be lost.
micah
2006-10-24 16:27:16 UTC
in a sense, but you would still be vulnerable to the attacks that you allow, such as visiting web sites that may be harmful, or allowing certain software to download. Your firewall won't stop those types of things unless you add some rules telling it to.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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