Good software????

[AlwaysUp]

I got a offer along with the BEFSR41 Linksys router, I bought to get Zone Alarm Pro and PC-Cillin at a reasonable price. Right in the Linksys router setup there is a page to implement these two softwares. My question is should I do it, as I have about a third of a year left on the subscription to my present AntiVirus program. What's the verdict? What's too much to pay for the both of these proggies?

[Xayd]

Too much? /shrug

There's a freeware zonealarm and you can hardly buy a mobo anymore without getting PC Cillin with it on CD.

I wouldn't pay more than 10 to 20 bucks for the pair.

[AlwaysUp]

Xayd, I have had the only site I know of test the integrity of my network. GRC.com and the Shieldsup port test and shield probe...whatever. Everything came up Stealth, as he puts it, anyway I understand that my router might need configuring for Netmeeting to work. I suppose you don't recommend DMZing one PC in order to netcam with Netmeeting, huh. Can port forwarding achieve what I am wanting to do?

[Xayd]

With Netmeeting it's gonna be almost impossible unless there's specific support in the router firmware for it without using the DMZ.

Unfortunately Netmeeting uses random UDP ports for its transmissions, so check with Linksys for firmware support for it, otherwise you're gonna be stuck using the DMZ .

As far as ZA goes, it doesn't hurt anything to run it especially since it monitors outgoing traffic very well, which that router won't do to my knowledge.

[reboot]

ZA is totally redundant with that router, why would you need both?

[AlwaysUp]

Just a software offered with the router....why would they offer it if it was totally redundant?

[mairving]

I have both installed on my machine. The router keeps the bad guys out but is for incoming only. ZA blocks any malicious outgoing stuff.

[reboot]

Re-read the manual for the Linksys, it also blocks outgoing...making ZA redundant.

[mairving]

Originally posted by reboot Re-read the manual for the Linksys, it also blocks outgoing...making ZA redundant.

It's not quite the same. ZA blocks everything by default and you have to give access to programs that you want. The router gives access to everyone by default but allows you to block specific things. It just tends to work better for me.

[reboot]

Um...that's not what I read...or I misunderstood...anyhow, still seems redundant. If you don't have any stupid trojans sending stuff without permission, then you don't need ZA, what you DO need is a good A-V program and the Linksys.

[AlwaysUp]

Marving, I know there are those here who suggest both and a few who do not. I guess it's a matter of "how secure do you want to feel" kind of thing. I think I will stay with the Norton AV until it expires. With it and the router I should be good to go. Thanks guys.

[mairving]

Firewalls are like money and looks. You can never have too much. I really just use ZA as a safeguard. Back before Klez took off, I didn't even run a zirus scanner. I also used OE. To control anything bad coming out of OE, I would have ZA prompt me to access the Internet. I don't use OE any more so that eliminates a large portion of trojans.

[AlwaysUp]

Isn't a person pretty safe, even if they are using OE; if they are running an AV that scans incoming e-mail and user adheres to the rule to not open anything unknown or unsolicited?

[reboot]

Isn't a person pretty safe

Not really. OE is so full of holes, most of us call it a trojan sieve.
Even if you are the most cautious, non-clicking type of person, OE automatically downloads and displays HTML and graphics that are included in the body of the message, not attachments, so you're still vulnerable to getting a virus/trojan, even if you never send one out.
Using a text based email client, such as Eudora or Pegasus, really reduces the chance that you will ever get infected. If you turn off "Use MS Viewer" and "Automatically display HTML graphics", then you're much more protected. As an added measure, Open Explorer, go to the Folder options, and "view all", do NOT "hide system files", and make sure you do NOT "hide extentions for known file types". That way, ANY attachment you get will display it's true extention, and not "Britneynude.jpg", it will show as "Britneynude.jpg.vbs" (or .scr, or whatever) that is obviously NOT a picture.
Now you've got it staring you in the face that it's a trojan, and not what it purports to be, no guessing involved.

(sorry this is so long, I'm just sick of NooBee's using OE, and have paid premium dollar for Norton AV, and STILL get infected.)