cable modem/router question

Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.
I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

TIA


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

Most routers have firewalls good enough for the home user. Check the
manual for what type(s) of protection the Netgear provides. And you
didn't say if the router is wired or wireless. Wireless opens up a
different set of security problems.

There are web sites that will probe your system to check your
security. Symantec is one, there are several others. I have used four
different routers and the computers on my network are always
"invisible" to the probes.

hawk

sf wrote:
Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.
I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

TIA


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.

Welcome to the club. My setup is the same. ;-)


I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

I suggest installing a software firewall in Windows.

The extra protection is to let you control which applications can use the
Internet. Malware sometimes finds its way into a computer despite a
hardware firewall, and then it tries to initiate communication in ways you
wouldn't like.

I use ZoneAlarm on Win98, and it has helped me several times. The first
time some new software tries to use the Internet, ZoneAlarm asks you if
it's ok.

I agree and I have a hardware firewall in addition to my software firewall
of ZoneAlarm Pro. Also, installed the Windows Update cd and all the Windows
updates. Finally, have anti-spyware protection. A HOSTS File Manager from
the MVP here is also a sure bet. In my opinion, you need to be extra
cautious in this day and age.

"Jay" wrote in message
8.16...
Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.

Welcome to the club. My setup is the same. ;-)


I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

I suggest installing a software firewall in Windows.

The extra protection is to let you control which applications can use the
Internet. Malware sometimes finds its way into a computer despite a
hardware firewall, and then it tries to initiate communication in ways you
wouldn't like.

I use ZoneAlarm on Win98, and it has helped me several times. The first
time some new software tries to use the Internet, ZoneAlarm asks you if
it's ok.

Other than the router, use a software based firewall as well for added security, a
good AV app and of course any apps to keep the spyware/adware at bay. You could also
go to the forums at Comcast and see what others are using and/or suggesting.

--
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more to learn.


"sf" wrote in message
...
Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.
I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

TIA


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

What is a hardware firewall? The router? What if I only
needed one computer? What do you do then?

I used ZoneAlarm (free) up to less than a month ago. I
forget what the problem was, but my computer guy said it was
ZA's fault (in spite of trouble free use for years). ZA was
deleted and the problem went away. I'll give it another
chance though.

I changed my hosts file the moment I found out about it and
have had unwanted popup surfing for months - if not more
than a year.

I also turn off my computer at night, because it's better
for my old computer and better for my peace of mind.

s thanks
```````````````````

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 12:40:27 -0700, "ArtWilder"
wrote:

I agree and I have a hardware firewall in addition to my software firewall
of ZoneAlarm Pro. Also, installed the Windows Update cd and all the Windows
updates. Finally, have anti-spyware protection. A HOSTS File Manager from
the MVP here is also a sure bet. In my opinion, you need to be extra
cautious in this day and age.

"Jay" wrote in message
8.16...
Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.

Welcome to the club. My setup is the same. ;-)


I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

I suggest installing a software firewall in Windows.

The extra protection is to let you control which applications can use the
Internet. Malware sometimes finds its way into a computer despite a
hardware firewall, and then it tries to initiate communication in ways you
wouldn't like.

I use ZoneAlarm on Win98, and it has helped me several times. The first
time some new software tries to use the Internet, ZoneAlarm asks you if
it's ok.




Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 16:02:42 -0700, Jay
wrote:

Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.

Welcome to the club. My setup is the same. ;-)


I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

I suggest installing a software firewall in Windows.

The extra protection is to let you control which applications can use the
Internet. Malware sometimes finds its way into a computer despite a
hardware firewall, and then it tries to initiate communication in ways you
wouldn't like.

I use ZoneAlarm on Win98, and it has helped me several times. The first
time some new software tries to use the Internet, ZoneAlarm asks you if
it's ok.

Yes, I'm fully aware of ZA. I used the free version up to a
few weeks ago when I had some glitch that my computer guy
blamed on ZA. I'll give it another try.

Thanks



Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 15:38:54 -0700, hawk
wrote:

Most routers have firewalls good enough for the home user. Check the
manual for what type(s) of protection the Netgear provides.

Netgear claims to have a built in firewall.

And you
didn't say if the router is wired or wireless. Wireless opens up a
different set of security problems.

I didn't say which I have because it's going to change.
It's wired now, but it will be wireless soon (same brand, I
think).

I understand wireless problems, but that doesn't stop cell
phone or cordless phone users - so a wireless router
shouldn't scare me off either. I think my daughter is
getting firewall software from her work (this broadband
servce is primarily so she can work from home - I was happy
with dial up). I'm not sure if just her computer or all 4
computers on the home network will have it though.


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

Most if not all routers have built in hardware firewall protection.
You could still use a router with only one computer. I have not used a
software firewall in any of my network computers, but I do use Spybot
for protection from spyware. I was not aware that a software firewall
such as ZoneAlarm could be set to prevent unauthorized access to the
internet from within a protected computer. That is an interesting feature.

hawk

sf wrote:

What is a hardware firewall? The router? What if I only
needed one computer? What do you do then?

I used ZoneAlarm (free) up to less than a month ago. I
forget what the problem was, but my computer guy said it was
ZA's fault (in spite of trouble free use for years). ZA was
deleted and the problem went away. I'll give it another
chance though.

I changed my hosts file the moment I found out about it and
have had unwanted popup surfing for months - if not more
than a year.

I also turn off my computer at night, because it's better
for my old computer and better for my peace of mind.

s thanks
```````````````````

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 12:40:27 -0700, "ArtWilder"
wrote:


I agree and I have a hardware firewall in addition to my software firewall
of ZoneAlarm Pro. Also, installed the Windows Update cd and all the Windows
updates. Finally, have anti-spyware protection. A HOSTS File Manager from
the MVP here is also a sure bet. In my opinion, you need to be extra
cautious in this day and age.

"Jay" wrote in message
8.16...
Using Win98. Just hooked up with comcast cable yesterday.

Welcome to the club. My setup is the same. ;-)


I have a Toshiba PCX2000 cable modem and a Netgear router
which says it has a built in firewall.

Do I need more protection? (I have Avast)

I suggest installing a software firewall in Windows.

The extra protection is to let you control which applications can use the
Internet. Malware sometimes finds its way into a computer despite a
hardware firewall, and then it tries to initiate communication in ways you
wouldn't like.

I use ZoneAlarm on Win98, and it has helped me several times. The first
time some new software tries to use the Internet, ZoneAlarm asks you if
it's ok.





Practice safe eating - always use condiments

"sf" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 15:38:54 -0700, hawk
wrote:
Netgear claims to have a built in firewall.

If your docs say it does, then it does. Which model is it?

And you
didn't say if the router is wired or wireless. Wireless opens up a
different set of security problems.

I didn't say which I have because it's going to change.
It's wired now, but it will be wireless soon (same brand, I
think).

Wireless security isn't as open as it used to be.


I understand wireless problems, but that doesn't stop cell
phone or cordless phone users - so a wireless router
shouldn't scare me off either. I think my daughter is
getting firewall software from her work (this broadband
servce is primarily so she can work from home - I was happy
with dial up). I'm not sure if just her computer or all 4
computers on the home network will have it though.

If you connect all the machines to the router and it handles the DHCP, all will have
access to the internet thru the same ISP account. All machines will show as the IP
assigned by the ISP on the WAN side and the router will assign each machine an IP on
the LAN side.
You can check the IP assigned each individual machine at a command prompt or in the
routers setup configuration.

To check the IP's set in the DHCP table of the router:
Start Run, type in: http://192.168.0.1 and press Enter.
Type in the default Name/PW if you haven't changed or the one you changed it too.
Click Maintenance DHCP Table.

To see it on the individual machines, at the Run box:
In 98 type: winipcfg and press Enter.

In XP type:
cmd and press Enter or just open a command prompt.
ipconfig and press Enter.
Exit and press Enter.

--
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more to learn.