Netgear Wireless And Firewall

breckrider · Joined: Feb 17, 2004 Posts: 83

I've just installed the NETGEAR wireless MR814v2 wireless router and am wondering if I should be running a firewall such as ZoneAlarm or does this router have a firewall built in?

xavierx · Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 3754

You can test this yourself with Gibson Research's "Shield's Up" test found here. Read the info then click proceed. On the next page, you should run all the tests.

breckrider · Joined: Feb 17, 2004 Posts: 83

Thanks avier. That's a great site. According to them, I'm fully stealthed.

Thanks for the link.

User: inactive Posts:

As I'm sure you're fully aware.....a firewall has to do double duty to fully protect your PC. It must prevent hackers from around the world from hacking into your PC and stealing your stuff. Secondly, it has to prevent ET's (viruses and spyware) already on your PC from 'phoning home'. That includes some MS products that just don't need access to the internet, although many programs do try to access it.
Most firewalls, including MS's XP firewall, won't do this second and most important task.
Take Steve Gibson's Leak Test to see if your firewall is "Leaking" info from within your PC. I'll bet you lunch that it is. Only a good software firewall like ZoneAlarm will protect you from ET's on your PC from phoning home.

If you're using only the hardware firewall in your router, then you must be doubly active in keeping your PC spotlessly clean of any Adware, trojans and other Malware.
That means run the best Anti-Spyware programs available and do your checks for updates DAILY. (personally, I'd still run ZoneAlarm.)
Here's my list of preferred programs for greater computer security.
I share these will all my customers.
********************************************
These are the programs I use every day to keep my own PC spotlessly clean.
I suggest every person having any Virus or Spyware issues get these programs
and use them immediately.
Do check for updates to all your security software on a DAILY basis.

SPYWARE BLOCKERS/REMOVERS:

a-squared (a²) is a complementary product to antivirus software and desktop firewalls on MS Windows computers. Antivirus software specializes in detecting classic viruses. Many available products have weaknesses in detecting other malicious software (Malware) like Trojans, Dialers, Worms and Spyware (Adware). a² fills the gap that malware writers exploit.
a2 FREE can be downloaded at:
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Download a2 Free now"

Spybot Search & Destroy, a great anti Spyware program.
Can be downloaded from:
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_desc...id,22262,00.asp

AdAware SE/Personal. Another top notch anti Spyware program.
Can be downloaded from:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html

Spyware Blaster, a great Spyware Blocker.
Protects both I.E. and Mozilla Firefox.
Can be downloaded from:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2859.html

ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION:

AVG 7 FREE:
World famous AVG will keep your computer free of viruses, trojans, dialers, etc.
By default, it updates and scans for viruses on a daily basis.
Can be downloaded from:
www.grisoft.com
Save to your desktop and run the install from there.
Immediately get updates. More than one may be required.

Stinger: Stand Alone Virus Scanner
Check for new version, once a week.
Can be downloaded from:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
Save to your Desktop and run from there.

vCleaner, Stand Alone Virus Checker from Grisoft.
Can be downloaded from:
http://www.infinitevelocity.com/tips/tips_vcleaner.htm
Save to your Desktop and run from there.

REGISTRY CLEANER:

Easy Cleaner, the best Registry Cleaner I've found so far.
Can be downloaded from:
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm
Just scroll down to "Download & Installation" and click on the first floppy disk symbol.

FIREWALL:

The XP windows firewall is only a 50% firewall, blocking incoming hackers but doing nothing to stop any ET that's already on your PC from "Phoning Home". It seems like almost every program you install anymore, wants to "Phone Home". It's a good idea to NOT allow this activity. My suggested Firewall to prevent this activity is the FREE version of a world famous product called "Zone Alarm".
ZA can be downloaded from:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/comp...reeDownload.jsp

And, while you're there, notice their FREE security test. This test uses Active-X controls and will only work if you access it from Internet Explorer. (will NOT work from Firefox or Netscape) It's a long download on a dial-up service. You'll probably just want to skip this test. If it does find something, it won't remove it unless you buy the full retail version. Just download the FREE version of ZoneAlarm.

If you do all of the above, your PC will love you and you'll have the cleanest PC in the neighborhood.
01-09-05

Good Luck,
The Shadow B)