Windows Firewall Necessary?

[imported_g33k]

I have a stand alone home pc. My copy of windows xp is fully updated with updated Norton AV 2004. Do I really need win xp firewall? Periodacly I have to turn my dsl modem on and off because I am no longer getting a connection. I think its related to the firewall.

 

[jadinolf]

You certainly need some kind of a firewall.

 

[LBmtb]

Get zonealarm instead.Like jandinolf said, you need some kind of firewall.

 

[jamesbond007]

I can't remember, but didn't NAV2004 come with the Internet Worm Protection? It's basically a firewall built within NAV. I know NAV2005 has it...

I quit using NAV though and switched to Trend Micro PC-Cillin 2005. It also has a built-in firewall, can be had for $15 at NewEgg after MIR, and has pretty much no overhead (slow-down) on your computer. I've found this firewall to be far more customizable than the Windows one.

Granted, I'm behind a router, so the firewall doesn't do me much good, but it has a thing called WiFi detection intrusion that I use. It basically alerts me if/when new or unrecognized IP addresses come on the network. Should anyone actually break the WPA-TKIP and other preventions I have on my WAP, it will let me know! :thumbsup:

If you're going to buy a firewall software, I'd dump NAV like a rock and go with Trend Micro!

 

[imported_g33k]

AFAIK, NAV 2004 and 2005 comes with worm protection, and it comes with built in anti-spyware. Really I don't know how much benefit I'm getting out of a firewall. Aren't you safe with just AV and all of the updated windows security patches?

 

[jamesbond007]

In today's Internet? Not a chance in hell. Why do you think MS is making it a standard to have a built-in firewall these days? It's essential!