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.

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.

[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... 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... 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... 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.