Is a Firewall important for DSL?

[farmercal]

I am stationed in Germany and have DSL with Deutsch Telekom. I saw some Firewall software packages by Norton and McAfee. Is a Firewall important with a DSL connection and why? Any help on this subject would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Anubis]

cause you computer can get hacked. pretty simple. and if you set up and FTP and dont block it and have premissions set up random people can drop stuff there. just download zone alarm or tiny personal firewall. and yull be fine

 

[farmercal]

Thanks. I'm new at this security risk stuff, you've been a lot of help!

 

[BFG10K]

Yes it is important because unlike a dial-up connection, with DSL you have a fixed IP address which is permanently connected to the internet. That leaves anyone as much time as they like to hack into your system.

If you have Windows XP you can use the built-in firewall.

 

[Mitzi]

I have a firewall but am only on a 56K connection - granted my machine does get connected to a DSL connection via a LAN every couple of weeks though. Nowadays, I wouldn't use my computer without a virus checker or firewall.