How safe is it to be online without a firewall/antivirus

Discussion in 'Networking and Security' started by romik, May 17, 2006.

  1. Adobian

    Adobian

  2. Is this like SPI? Have you technophiles invested in a business class router or even your own server????
     
    #42     Jun 1, 2006
  3. after work I just physically disconnect the computer from the internet just in case. You never know these days if your computer has a virus or not and somebody has a trojan in your computer.


     
    #43     Jun 1, 2006
  4. It appears SIF would be the security software's equivalent of a router that has SPI. It begs the question, is it better to focus on router protection or individual cpu protection? I am not a networker, but it would seem that router protection would be better. Multiple security software programs running on the cpu could slow you down as the cpu usage would be high (?). Multiple firewalls on the router or router/server level would avoid this problem (?). Would this cause other problems though? Could it slow you down? Opinions?????
     
    #44     Jun 1, 2006
  5. In general, this is a good compact write-up:
    http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1716

    I would go for full router protection. Trying to do this in a CPU will definitely slow things down.
     
    #45     Jun 2, 2006
  6. Thanks for the link. Never heard of DPI, but it sounds great if it could be performed at "wire speed." It sounds like IDS might be available on some routers. I need to look into this stuff.
     
    #46     Jun 2, 2006
  7. I run 3 front-line computers to trade on a daily basis...
    And while it might be "ideal" to strip out everthing non-trading related...
    This is just not be optimal for many.

    A good middle of the road solution:

    Get rid of Norton, Macfee, etc, now. Period.
    Turn off all Windows firewall related stuff now. Period.

    Get the free Avast anti-virus.
    Get the free SyGate Firewall.

    I have been running this combination for 3 years on many computers...
    With no serious problems whatsoever.

    When Google chose to include the bloated, expensive Norton Trojan with their Desktop...
    Instead of a simple, clean, free solution like Avast...
    I knew that Google has now ditched it's pretensions to any "moral high road"...
    And is now ruthlessly bent on being the next Microsoft.
     
    #47     Jun 3, 2006
  8. nevadan

    nevadan

    #48     Jun 4, 2006
  9. So you can keep it light on the cpu's if you limit your surfing to a few secure sights. I suppose you could have a different computer not connected to the network to surf the web. Are your computers connected via wifi or lines?

    What about if you had redundant multiple level firewall protection by bridging one router to the next and then disabled the dhcp on the first router? This idea would have two brand models performing the same types of firewalling. Someone could run a simple antivirus on the CPU's and visit only a few secure sights. I wonder if this would work and if it would result in significantly slower speed.
     
    #49     Jun 4, 2006
  10. Hey HoundDog

    Wait a minute... is there something Norton - related on my computer now that I have installed Google Desktop? I am finding Google Desktop very convenient for locating files on my computer but I have noticed slowdowns and more memory in use lately. What do you mean by the 'Norton Trojan'? I will try a search later today but if you have a link that would be great.

    This is the first I've heard of it!

    btw... someone posted earlier that there's no difference between Firefox and IE in terms of security... I was under the impression that there was a big difference. Again, I will have time to check the link that was provided later.
     
    #50     Jun 4, 2006