do i need software firewall?

I have installed a Netgear WGR614 router that has NAT and SPI enabled.
It controls my wired desktop and wireless laptop computers. I am
trying to learn a bit about hardware firewalls now and have read
messages here that software firewalls are not needed if you have a NAT
router.

Other than perhaps wanting to monitor outbound traffic do I need my
desktop Sygate 5.6 software firewall anymore?

Should I bother turning on the Windows firewall on my laptop?

Will I continue to be able to use file sharing applications without
making specific rules in the router?

How about other applications that use non-standard ports?

Thanks

Re: do i need software firewall?

badgolferman wrote:
> Other than perhaps wanting to monitor outbound traffic do I need my
> desktop Sygate 5.6 software firewall anymore?

No.

> Should I bother turning on the Windows firewall on my laptop?

Yes. Or stop offering network services. "Laptop" sounds like this is a
portable device, which is sometimes not behind your filtering device.

> Will I continue to be able to use file sharing applications without
> making specific rules in the router?

Yes, if the clients are behind this filtering router, too. Dependend on
the rules: yes for other clients.

> How about other applications that use non-standard ports?

What about them?

Yours,
VB.
--
Viel schlimmer als die Implementation von PHP ist jedoch das Design.

Rudolf Polzer in de.comp.security.misc

Re: do i need software firewall?

According to me
You need a desktop antivirus and firewall.
It will be 2nd level security for your laptop and workstations.
1st level is NAT Router or Firewall

Thanks
CK

badgolferman wrote:
> I have installed a Netgear WGR614 router that has NAT and SPI enabled.
> It controls my wired desktop and wireless laptop computers. I am
> trying to learn a bit about hardware firewalls now and have read
> messages here that software firewalls are not needed if you have a NAT
> router.
>
> Other than perhaps wanting to monitor outbound traffic do I need my
> desktop Sygate 5.6 software firewall anymore?
>
> Should I bother turning on the Windows firewall on my laptop?
>
> Will I continue to be able to use file sharing applications without
> making specific rules in the router?
>
> How about other applications that use non-standard ports?
>
> Thanks

Re: do i need software firewall?

badgolferman wrote:
> I have installed a Netgear WGR614 router that has NAT and SPI enabled.
> It controls my wired desktop and wireless laptop computers. I am
> trying to learn a bit about hardware firewalls now and have read
> messages here that software firewalls are not needed if you have a NAT
> router.
>
> Other than perhaps wanting to monitor outbound traffic do I need my
> desktop Sygate 5.6 software firewall anymore?

Not really.

> Should I bother turning on the Windows firewall on my laptop?

No. You can follow something like:
http://clankiller.com/technical/tweaks/winxp/servicestweaks. php (there
are probably better ones around...used to have a good on bookmarked but
it's no longer available), and disable any OS services that aren't
necessary.

> Will I continue to be able to use file sharing applications without
> making specific rules in the router?

Hard to say, chances are if you're sharing (P2P) with someone outside
your network you'll have to tweak it a bit.

> How about other applications that use non-standard ports?

The router will have to be configured to allow traffic on those ports.
(Most allow application triggering or static rules).

Re: do i need software firewall?

In article ,
REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com says...
> I have installed a Netgear WGR614 router that has NAT and SPI enabled.
> It controls my wired desktop and wireless laptop computers. I am
> trying to learn a bit about hardware firewalls now and have read
> messages here that software firewalls are not needed if you have a NAT
> router.
>
> Other than perhaps wanting to monitor outbound traffic do I need my
> desktop Sygate 5.6 software firewall anymore?
>
> Should I bother turning on the Windows firewall on my laptop?
>
> Will I continue to be able to use file sharing applications without
> making specific rules in the router?
>
> How about other applications that use non-standard ports?
>
> Thanks
>
If you want to monitor outgoing applications then a host based
application firewall ,of hips type programe would be required.
me