| Author |
Message |
    
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 2430
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 4:16 pm: |     |
My darling children finally convinced me to spring for Comcast cable. The installation went really well, with the exception that the modem we bought at Radio Shack, actually with the rebate Comcast is giving it to us, didn't support USB for Windows98 so I had to spring for an Ethernet card.
The question is does McAfee Anti-Virus professional have firewall software built in? The literature sort says it does, but seems only to talk about virus problems. We have the latest version. |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1278
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 7:55 pm: | |
McAfee does get a bit obscure about these things, but yes, it does have a firewall. I don't think much of the program though, and it's far behind the competition. See my most recent antivirus review in PC Magazine. |
Jerry Ryan
Citizen
Username: Gerardryan
Post Number: 1080
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 1:22 am: | |
Wow I learned something new; I would not expect firewall SW to be bundled in with antivirus.
Somethin new every day... |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 2433
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 5:17 am: | |
Larry and Jerry thanks for the information.
|
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 547
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 8:25 am: | |
You can get a free firewall at www.zonealarm.com. Its been highly rated in all the tests I've seen and it works well for me. |
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 28
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 8, 2003 - 4:33 pm: | |
ZoneAlarm is good as is BlackICE Defender, which isn't free. The best solution is a hardware-based firewall, which can be had for around $75 or so. Basically you set up a home network (even if you only have one PC), and use a gateway/router. The gateway/router acts as a physical barrier between your PC and the Internet. Would-be hackers end up pinging your router and never see your computer. You can check out some good ones at www.linksys.com and www.d-link.com. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 563
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 12:14 pm: | |
Last time I had (enough) trouble with Comcast to call support, they wouldn't even TALK to me when I had a router running. Just FYI. |
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 34
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 3:37 pm: | |
Hi Tom:
I know they used to have a policy against giving support to people using routers. This was because they believed most of their customers were too computer-illiterate to know that they could use one instead of purchasing a second IP address. I think they're coming to their senses now though. I had a support issue a couple of months ago, told them I was using a router, and still got the help I needed. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 566
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 5:09 pm: | |
well that's a nice turnaround. now that there are whole aisles dedicated to routers of every kind in the electronics stores, reality is sinking in! |
enigmabomb
Citizen
Username: Enigmabomb
Post Number: 250
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 6:37 pm: | |
I disagree. Hardware routers and firewalls just aren't practical for home users. Often times, I find they are just as well protected with a well mannered piece of firewall software such as Zone Alarm. The real question is this: Are what you doing on your computer worthy of an 80 dollar firewall, and some hassle? Often times the answer is no. Shopping online frequently comes up as something worthy of it, but remember, the packets (Pieces of information) are encrypted quite well. So even though they are theoretically open for everyone to see, they are still worthless. Besides, everytime the firewall or router goes south, You have to call someone to fix it since comcast dosen't support it.
Just another view. (Read: Counterpoint)
-enigmabomb- |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 567
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 4:13 pm: | |
My "hardware" router is actually pretty new, I had been using a freestanding mac with a software router to do the job. Since Friday I've been having intermittent outages of service. At first I'd get really frustrated and change settings, disconnect this, power down that, the usual protocols. Finally I figured out that nothing I did really mattered and it would eventually come up on it's own. All day Sunday was OK, but this morning it was out again.
So now I wonder, is my $80 router the problem? Or has anyone else been experiencing these random outages with Comcast lately? |
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 4:26 pm: | |
None here. Simple way to find out though -- bypass the router and see if it stops. |
barleyrooty
Citizen
Username: Barleyrooty
Post Number: 493
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 8:37 am: | |
Just set up a new Orinoco Wireless gateway/router. It's awesome! Very easy install. My family can now access the cable modem and printer from our 2 PC's and 2 laptops from anywhere in the house. The router acts like a firewall too. They just went on sale!
My next project is to connect the music system to the network so I can play my mp3 collection and 1000s of internet radio stations in the living room.
I love technology when it works.
Signed, Major Geek |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 568
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 12:19 pm: | |
I thought about going wireless, but with four desktops and two laptops to buy wireless cards for, the prospect was a little more financially than I was willing to go into. Plus, I already have most every room in the house wired for ethernet!
I guess if I have an ethernet jack in the wall of my bedroom, I too can sign myself,
Major Geek
 |
enigmabomb
Citizen
Username: Enigmabomb
Post Number: 252
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 11:44 pm: | |
I <3 My wireless network. I <3 Finding new ones more. I do wish maplewood village were blanketed. I keep wishing I could make MapleNet(R) a reality.
-enigmabomb- |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 4060
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 1:00 am: | |
Wireless networks: the next big thing for economic development?
http://www.ci.long-beach.ca.us/bdc/hot_zone.htm
http://www.m-travel.com/30107.shtml |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 573
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 12:10 pm: | |
Funny story: A guy I work with set up a wireless network with the main unit in his basement. Measuring the strength of his signal, he found that on the first floor of his house it was 80%, but on the second floor it was almost 100%. He thought that was interesting but pretty cool.
After a little while, though, his next door neighbor asked him if he was running wireless. Turns out, when he was on the second floor of his house he was actually on his neighbor's network!
Better make sure your passwords are secure. |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1302
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 1:58 pm: | |
My neighbor and I can see each other's wireless networks. If you're at all concerned about it you should take measures to keep neighbors off your network.
If your wireless configuration supports shutting off "SSID Broadcast", do it. This is the name of the network and the reason you can scan for the network from a client and find it by name. Also, make sure to change the name from the default (probably the vendor name, like "linksys" or "speedstream"). Without SSID Broadcast you have to know the name of the network to connect to it, but it's very unlikely that someone will hack onto your network.
You probably also ought to use WEP, a system built in to almost all wireless networks that encrypts the data on the air. It's a flawed implementation, but it's still worth using. It can be tough to configure though. You should also try to place the wireless access point, if you have one, as close as possible to the physical center of the house. This gives you the best range within the house and minimized the reach of the signal outside it.
A determined and talented hacker can get through the easy defenses, but I personally don't worry about it and you shouldn't either. (If you want tons of detail on this, I cover it in my book: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0072226838)
And it's not just a matter of privacy. After all, if it's just a matter of your neighbors seeing your kids' homework, who cares. But note that in Tom's example, guy 1 was connecting to guy 2's wireless network, and therefore using guy 2's internet connection. Apart from this potentially causing configuration problems for guy 1, he's using up guy 2's internet bandwidth. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 576
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 9:38 pm: | |
This evening I kicked my Linsys router across the floor. Worst piece of computer hardware -- and I've seen my share -- I've ever seen. A lemon no doubt, but from what I see on some web sites they're way too common from Linksys. Tomorrow I'm going to go exchange it for a Netgear box. |
enigmabomb
Citizen
Username: Enigmabomb
Post Number: 254
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 3:10 pm: | |
I have always had good luck with them Tom. As always, a good password will help. ...But someone sniffing your traffic can gain a lot of things. .. including this very password! My neighbor and I see each other's wireless networks, I even had his airport hooked up to my hub and under my bed when he was having problems with comcast. The only problem I have now is that I can see through walls...
-enigmabomb- |
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