Dial-up and Firewall

[bosco]

Does someone with a dial-up connection really need a firewall(ZA) since your IP changes all the time?

[AzCoastie]

Unfortunately, I have dial-up... *Grrr*

I've only use what's built into XP Pro for my firewall... I see no need to install ZA with dial-up! ;)

The way I see it... If someone hacks my computer, I get to do a clean install and personnally, I enjoy doing a clean install and tweeking it... I learn something new everytime. :D

Don't get me wrong... I've NEVER had anyone hack my computer and force a clean install... I'm just not worried IF it happens! ;)

A couple of years ago, I had a cable connection and never used a firewall and never had any troubles. You suppose I'm just a lucky guy? :)

[dldz]

Yes you are one of the lucky percentage. If you have any 'always on' connection running without a firewall of any kind is irresponsible. Even if you don't keep any personal info on the machine being hijacked a trojan etc would be undetected until too late.
Don

[Tuf]

I suppose most computers on dial up aren't using firewalls. But personally I think every computer that is hooked to the internet needs some security .... even those on dial up.

[glc]

I'm on dialup and I use ZA.

[Cricket]

I'm on dial-up and I use Sygate.

:) Cricket

[Doobie]

Since we are on the subject of firewall and dialup I will ask this...

Does a firewall slow down your internet connection? As you know we (dial up users) have no speed to spare.

[not important]

I'm on Dial-up and I use Sygate. Can't hurt.

[Preston]

Hey Doobie,

Wondered if you ever installed a firewall, and if you did, if it slowed down your connection? I am also considering a firewall (with dialup)

[Strider]

I use a firewall for my computers, since I have DSL which is always on. My dad who lives in Florida has dial-up, I didn't put a firewall on that computer (I did put in an anti-virus program). I figured he's always connecting/disconnecting and isn't on the Net for a very long time because he doesn't want to tie up the line. If he were to stay on the net for a long time, I would put a firewall on that computer.

I think a firewall isn't necessary for dial-up if the person only spends a short time on the net (like my father), but if your a person who stays on the net for a long time I would suggest to install a firewall.

Just my .02 cents

[Confused]

I guess it boils down to personal choice and your level of paraonia. I never ran one when I had dial-up. Like Strider's father I wasn't on that long. With cable I put in a router for a hardware firewall. I tried the free version of ZA for a period of time but when I got a second PC with XP and networked the two, my WIN98 FE PC got completely hosed. Wound up formatting and reinstalling WIN98. Since then I just use the hardware firewall the router provides.
Chas

[Doobie]

Originally posted by Preston
Hey Doobie,

Wondered if you ever installed a firewall, and if you did, if it slowed down your connection? I am also considering a firewall (with dialup)

I used Zone Alarm and I couldnt really tell the diff. So no it didnt slow it down. :p

[Preston]

I thinik that I'm sold on the idea of a firewall for dialup....my paranoia level is up there...

[Floppyman]

Now that I'm on broaband I'm using ZA, but even when I was on dialup I used ZA (Sygate too for a while).

[Fastfly]

I am Pretty sure there isnt much a Hacker can do for someone on a 56k.

[Floppyman]

That's perhaps true, but it might also catch spyware etc. that's trying to access the net.

[pc_noob]

I can't post in forums with ZA on...:confused: It confuses me.

[bosco]

Originally posted by Floppyman
That's perhaps true, but it might also catch spyware etc. that's trying to access the net.
That is the main reason I use it. ZA has notified me of programs that were trying to phone home. DENIED.

[Floppyman]

Originally posted by pc_noob
I can't post in forums with ZA on...:confused: It confuses me.

Hi,

What message pops up when you try to post? What confuses you? We'd be more than willing to try to explain it to you.

[Doobie]

Originally posted by pc_noob
I can't post in forums with ZA on...:confused: It confuses me.

There is an option about cookes that Zone Alarm asks if you want to enable it... I cant recall the name but if you look around under options you might find it... Lower the level... thats probably why you cant post...

[pc_noob]

Thanks for the help guys!

[Eaglefeather]

I am on dial up and have a very slow connection. Go to the security forum and read through some of the hell I just went through with my PC. I turned off my ZoneAlarm for only a couple of hours, actually I forgot it was turned off.

I did not download anything during that time, but something hellish got into my PC and changed all my .exe files. It took me a week to get rid of it and then I had to reinstal almost all of my programs.

I will never go online again with out firewall protection.

[glc]

I'm glad I have ZA on dialup - I've logged on and been deluged with Kazaa connection attempts - all I can think of is the previous user of the dynamic IP had an active Kazaa session before the IP got reassigned and a bunch of other users were still trying to connect.