Sheild Up test

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
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my lappy has passed several tests with Sygate Personal Firewall disabled and it is wireless with Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless-b router and Airlink Plus wireless cardbus.
My question is do I still have to turn firewall on or not at home? I know firewall is must if I access internet at the public place.
 

ColKurtz

Senior member
Dec 20, 2002
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Why wouldn't you? Unless the personal firewall is giving you problems, why would you not run it. I use ZA less for preventing things from getting in, and more so it will notify my if something tries to get out.
 

OmegaXero

Senior member
Apr 11, 2001
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When you're at home then you're behind the NAT firewall that your router has in place. This should still be good enough to pass with a Stealth rating on all ports when running the Shields Up test @ GRC.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,517
409
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Shield Up mainly tests for open ports. That means that while your system is protected from outside attack. However that would cover only small part of the risk involved Internet connation.

There are many other risks that come with code, or while the ports are open for traffic. Programs calling home, popups, spywares, ?zombies?, Viruses etc. are not Blocked by the Router?s NAT Firewall.

Link to: Basic Protection for Broadband Internet Installation.

Link to: Assemble a Freeware Security suit for Internet Connection Protection.

:sun:
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
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Since I got lappy and installed AntiVir and Sygate Firewall, I checked firewall log, there is no hack attack or virus threat at all for 3 months. I only browse anadtech, sport and world news I don't check email that about it. Also I use Firefox browser and there is no pop-up at all. I check with spyware. I get one or none several times with Adware and Spy & Search program.
I hope this lappy is very secure with firewall diabled.
In case of you want to know...it is Win98se.
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
2,488
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I would ask the same question already asked but ignored. Why wouldn't you? Performance? Issues? If your not having problems or unless you really need the memory it uses I'd run it. No reason not to otherwise. NAT routers typically only stop inbound traffic. If you get a trojan on your computer somehow it's unlikely your router will let you know it's sending data out.
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
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ok ok my lappy has only 160MB memory can't upgrade more than that and it is AMD K6-2 333 so FireFox, AntiVir and Sygate PF use low memory resource but I posted my problem with FF crash so I had to disable both firewall and antivir to stop FF crash. I might try Kerio Firewall later to see how it works with FF.