Re: Zone Alarm & Wireless LANs

From: Duane Arnold (notme_at_notme.com)
Date: 01/26/04 

Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 01:30:38 GMT

itafran2002@yahoo.com (Itafran) wrote in
news:7ffa6ca2.0401251631.49abecc@posting.google.com:

> I've set up a Lynksys wireless router, and in the process of making it
> all work, tech support demanded I uninstall Zone Alarm, as, they said,
> all firewall software interferes with LANs and especially wireless
> access. I had an old version of ZA (v2 pro). Uninstalling didn't
> fix the particular connection problem I was experiencing, so I had to
> call again and find someone else to fix whatever was wrong.
>
> Now, I'm not too comfortable letting go of any firewall protection
> (Linksys claims the firewall is built into the router already).
> Given all security issues around wireless access, I'm sticking to
> plain ethernet cable into my DSL modem when it comes to performing
> sensitive transactions with credit cards-- but now without Zone Alarm
> there is no protection in this mode either! (I know Windows XP 's
> firewall is next to useless).
>
> Does anyone have any past experience using newer versions of ZA that
> do not interfere with wireless routers?
> thanks
>

The whole thing with Linksys Tech Support is BS. I use a Linksys wireless
myself. What model is the router, because I have an 11S4 and it doesn't
have any FW? At best, your router may have SPI, if it's the G model.

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-NAT.asp

An appliance with a real FW will meet the specs below and cost a few $100
more than a Linksys router.

http://www.firewall-software.com/firewall_faqs/what_does_firewall_do.html

The ICF on XP has the same capabilities to stop unsolicited inbound
traffic as does the NAT Linksys router. So it's not useless.

IPsec is on the XP O/S that can stop outbound traffic by port, protocol,
IP, and DNS and that's why ICF on XP doesn't do it.

You can put ZA on the machines if you like, since the Linksys most likely
cannot stop outbound.

Duane :)

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