software firewall and router question

[mindwave_21]

I didn't know which forum to put this in, but I guess it's more of a security question than a networking question.

OK, so I have the latest zonealarm personal firewall installed on my computer. Actually, I have it on both my computers (one is family, one is mine). We just bought a Netgear RP614 Web safe router gateway and that itself is a hardware firewall, right? Also, the software for the router firewall is Freedom. Will the software and hardware firewall coincide peacefully? Also, do I need to install the freedom software to take advantage of the router firewall, or is that a hardware thing that is always on? I installed freedom on my comp, and ZA asked if freedom could access the internet. Then, Freedom asked if I wanted ZA to access the internet. Is this ok?
Thanks in advance for the help.

mindwave_21

[reboot]

Read the manual for the router. If it has "Stateful packet inspection", then it IS a firewall, and running Freedom or ZA is redundant. The thing is described as "web safe router gateway", so I would imagine it's all you need.

[glc]

I looked up that router on Netgear's site - it's a NAT firewall, no stateful packet inspection. This in itself is generally sufficient, but a software firewall that monitors applications and checks for outbound packets is a good second line of defense. It appears that the "Freedom" software is a suite of products - antivirus, firewall, and content filtering. I suppose it depends which modules Netgear is providing to be able to tell you what extra protection it gives you over and above the NAT firewall. Whatever it is, it's giving you extra protection, and if it asked permission for ZA to access the Internet, I assume that you have the firewall module and it's probably pretty decent. In your case, I would say that ZA is redundant and it's fine to use the Freedom software (because Netgear provided it with the router if nothing else). If you are truly paranoid, multiple firewalls may help, but there is a risk of them interfering with each other, find a happy medium is the best way to handle it.

[mindwave_21]

Thanks guys. Keeping freedom on my home computer, and ZA on the one I'm taking to college. (Freedom is 1 year only or something)
BTW, the firewall in SuSE linux actually interfered with my router. Know of any software firewalls for linux that would coincide peacefully?