Firewall question

[chuckywang]

My router has a built in safety feature that only allows certain ports open, like for ftp, http, email, etc.

Is this good enough, or should I have a personal firewall installed on a computer? If so, any recommendations on a good dedicated firewall? IPCop or Smoothwall?

 

[Triforceofcourage]

I still like the free version of zone alarm, there are probably better solutions out there but I like the interface.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
I still like the free version of zone alarm, there are probably better solutions out there but I like the interface.

But that's not a dedicated firewall. I have an old computer that I want to put to some good use.

 

[bdmst16]

Smoothwall, great FREE software.

 

[chuckywang]

bump

 

[Sunner]

OpenBSD.

 

[BFG10K]

Are you running XP? If so it's built-in Firewall is fine.

 

[chuckywang]

One is running XP. Some are running Windows 98 SE. One is running Windows 2000.

 

[drag]

OpenBSD makes a great firewall operating system. It has it's built in packet filtering capabilities. It's about the best thing you can do for security. Makes Windows XP SP2 look like tissue paper vs OpenBSD's 3 foot thick reinforced concrete wall.

seriously. Once you use OpenBSD and study it a bit you idea of what is a secure OS and what it takes to get a secure OS changes forever.

Smoothwall and other Linux based router/firewalls are nice, too. Usually easier to setup. Lots of fancy stuff.

Personally I use a linux router on a floppy that is pretty ancient, still works though. It's from the LEAF firewall appliance project, that have newer versions aviable. Boots up, mounts floppy, copies floppy into ram, unmounts floppy, runs forever.