Re: Hardware vs Software

From: Linda B (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 04/20/04 

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 11:00:07 -0700

Every once in a while, when I'm bored, I'll go to
Housecall and run a scan, and a couple years ago I had a
copy of NAV (which got removed when I rebuilt my machine
several months ago). No virus scan I've ever run (yes,
with updated defs) has ever come back dirty.

And... on the contrary, a router which performs NAT
combats worms and viruses and spy/malware quite well,
thank you very much. *Nothing* gets through. On a whim I
once tried plugging my laptop (which also has no
firewall/AV) straight into my cable modem -- it was
infected right and left within a matter of minutes. My
computer, which runs through the router -- I'll say this
again for clarity -- has *ever* been infected with
*anything*. If the router isn't providing the protection,
I must have some super-magical fairy nymph goddesses
floating around, or something.

The only real precaution I suppose I take -- as far as
software -- is that I go to windowsupdate now and then and
install the latest patches.

>-----Original Message-----
>* Linda B <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>:
>>
>> Personally, I have always been an advocate of the "less
>> software = more stable system" school of thought, and
>> would *much* rather have a router hooked up between me
and
>> my cable modem to protect me than any software
installed
>> on my machine. I don't have any firewall software --
not
>> even any anti-virus software -- and I've never had any
>> problems whatsoever as long as I'm plugged into my
>> precious router.
>
>
>How do you know you don't have any virus's or trojans on
your computer?
>Your router does absolutly nothing for protection against
them.
>
>>
>> Considering you can pick up a four-port router for
about
>> the same amount of money as NIS, why do more people not
>> consider this an option? (Admittedly, ZoneAlarm is
free,
>> but then you have ZoneAlarm on your computer, always
>> asking you if Site A is safe or if Popup B should be
>> allowed.)
>>
>> Just my two cents.
>> :) LB
>
>I'd go into this one also but I see someone has already
pointed out the
>flaws in thinking a router is the same as a firewall and
antivirus
>software so I'll let it go.
>
>Jason
>.
>

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