Whole thing confuses me

[borbos]

Ok have a dsl connection just put in a router. Running windows xp pro. I have no idea what else I need to do to make the computer safe. I know the router I had to make a scheme for everquest to play on the router. I want to be able to make the puter secure if I decide to put any bank infromation on it. Do I need a fire wall also? Is the router good enough protection? I currently have no virus protection on it atm. Suggestions in that realm would also be appreciated. :confused:

[glc]

You definitely need an antivirus - AVG (www.grisoft.com) is a decent free one. XP has a builtin firewall available, enable that and it will add some security.

[Confused]

Under "Learn more about 'Internet connection firewall'".

ICF and Home or Small Office communications
You should not enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) on any connection that does not directly connect to the Internet. If the firewall is enabled on the network adapter of an ICS client computer, it will interfere with some communications between that computer and all other computers on the network. For a similar reason, the Network Setup Wizard does not allow ICF to be enabled on the ICS host private connection, the connection that connects the ICS host computer with the ICS client computers, because enabling a firewall in this location would completely prohibit network communications.

Does this mean that you don't run ICF if you have a router?
Chas

[ktkendall]

The router does have a built in firewall as long as U have it enabled. I ran a security check on mine and I only run the routers firewall and I got a very good rating as far as how hard it would be for a hacker to gte into my machines...

[Confused]

I know KT. I only run the router firewall also. My question was aimed more to George concerning if there was a possible conflict if the XP firewall is turned on in conjuction with a router.
Chas

[reboot]

No conflicts. I know many people that run a software firewall with a router, although it's redundant if you're careful about what you download/run.
After a few months of paranoia, they uninstall the software firewall.

[sdkfz]

I guess my paranoi is a little high, I occaisionally get an e mail that tries to access the web upon opening, for this my software firewall behind the router firewall proves ueful to me.

[Computer Hobbyist]

What the documentation is telling you is that you can have trouble communicating with other machines on your home network if you enabled ICF on any "connection not directly connected to the internet." If you connect your computer to the rest of your network and to the internet via a single NIC connected to a hub or multiport router, enabling ICF on your XP machine can make your communication with your other computers difficult, if not impossible. Remember that the router is handiing the Internet Connection for your network. Your XP machine isn't. The precise document covers the case where people are using Internet Connection Sharing. The ICS client it refers to is the computer down stream of the XP computer actin as a sort of proxy server.

[Confused]

Thanks Reboot/Computer Hobbyist
Chas

[borbos]

Ok thnanks now I am just a little more confused. Is the firewall on the router enough? How can I tell if the firewall is enabled? The set up for the router (net gear) told me how to allow everquest to play but other than that I am in the dark. Thanks for all the help.

[Computer Hobbyist]

It may or may not be good enough depending on your needs. Many advise setting up personal firewalls on each computer the lan side of your router. Others say that is over kill. Again it depends on your level of paranoia. Done right it won't hurt. Done wrong and you will have problems communicating with your other computers.