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    hardware firewalls

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by J-Bytes, Jul 13, 2007.

  1. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    what's the deal with "hardware firewalls" found in some routers. some say it is necessary to fully secure computers, however i do not see how hardware can act as a security item. :confused:
     
    J-Bytes, Jul 13, 2007
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  2. thegsrguy

    thegsrguy Notebook Deity

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    Most off-the-shelf routers have stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewalls. They basically inspect all incoming traffic -- if it was not requested by someone in your network, it just gets dropped. Your computer never even sees the unsolicited traffic.

    You should have a hardware and software firewall, ideally. It's part of defense-in-depth, which is a method of layering your security.
     
    thegsrguy, Jul 13, 2007
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  3. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    i don't have a hardware firewall...is that opening vulnerabilities in my pc?
     
    J-Bytes, Jul 13, 2007
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  4. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, if you are not running a personal FW. The more levels of security you have the better. Now SPI do nothing if you are all ready infected. Software firewalls give you control of the outgoing traffic. Like I block MS WGA, so it can not talk to is mother ship.
     
    blue68f100, Jul 14, 2007
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  5. J-Bytes

    J-Bytes I am CanadiEEEn NBR Reviewer

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    i have a software firewall...just not a hardware firewall
     
    J-Bytes, Jul 14, 2007
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