Win98SE-XP Home Edition Firewall

I have just networked my laptop and PC together and it is working perfectly.
On my PC, I have XP Home and the Microsoft/SP2 firewall in operation. My
laptop is running 98SE as its quite an old laptop and only a 5GB HDD at the
moment. One of my mates said I don't need a firewall on the laptop as its
networked to the PC and that has a firewall already and another of my mates
says its better to be safe than sorry and to definately install a firewall on
the laptop running 98SE. So I put the free version of Zone Alarm on the
laptop as recommended by my mate, as its only a small program. I am also
using the free version of AVG virus scanner as well and no problems with that
at all. Now I am really confussed as I dont know if I do or do not need a
firewall on the laptop? Can someone help - please? Many thanks in advance.
Mike.

I'm confused. You *have* a firewall on the laptop called Zone Alarm,
correct?

You've been given decent advice by both friends. The only question that
might arise is if ZA on the laptop starts causing problems.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"MickY G" wrote in message
...
I have just networked my laptop and PC together and it is working
perfectly.
On my PC, I have XP Home and the Microsoft/SP2 firewall in operation. My
laptop is running 98SE as its quite an old laptop and only a 5GB HDD at
the
moment. One of my mates said I don't need a firewall on the laptop as its
networked to the PC and that has a firewall already and another of my
mates
says its better to be safe than sorry and to definately install a firewall
on
the laptop running 98SE. So I put the free version of Zone Alarm on the
laptop as recommended by my mate, as its only a small program. I am also
using the free version of AVG virus scanner as well and no problems with
that
at all. Now I am really confussed as I dont know if I do or do not need a
firewall on the laptop? Can someone help - please? Many thanks in
advance.
Mike.

Yes, the free version of Zone Alarm firewall is installed on the laptop at
the moment. I have read things about ZA being a bit (shal we say) unstable? I
don't mind removing ZA if it might become troublesome, providing the firewall
on the networked PC (XP/SP2 version), will cover the laptop as well? In fact,
I would rather remove ZA to save more space but safety and security must come
first.

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

I'm confused. You *have* a firewall on the laptop called Zone Alarm,
correct?

You've been given decent advice by both friends. The only question that
might arise is if ZA on the laptop starts causing problems.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"MickY G" wrote in message
...
I have just networked my laptop and PC together and it is working
perfectly.
On my PC, I have XP Home and the Microsoft/SP2 firewall in operation. My
laptop is running 98SE as its quite an old laptop and only a 5GB HDD at
the
moment. One of my mates said I don't need a firewall on the laptop as its
networked to the PC and that has a firewall already and another of my
mates
says its better to be safe than sorry and to definately install a firewall
on
the laptop running 98SE. So I put the free version of Zone Alarm on the
laptop as recommended by my mate, as its only a small program. I am also
using the free version of AVG virus scanner as well and no problems with
that
at all. Now I am really confussed as I dont know if I do or do not need a
firewall on the laptop? Can someone help - please? Many thanks in
advance.
Mike.

PS - I remember that when I first networked the PC and laptop together, the
Windows XP/SP2 firewall asked me if I was networking, so maybe that
particular firewall is covering the laptop as well? Thank you. Mike

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

I'm confused. You *have* a firewall on the laptop called Zone Alarm,
correct?

You've been given decent advice by both friends. The only question that
might arise is if ZA on the laptop starts causing problems.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"MickY G" wrote in message
...
I have just networked my laptop and PC together and it is working
perfectly.
On my PC, I have XP Home and the Microsoft/SP2 firewall in operation. My
laptop is running 98SE as its quite an old laptop and only a 5GB HDD at
the
moment. One of my mates said I don't need a firewall on the laptop as its
networked to the PC and that has a firewall already and another of my
mates
says its better to be safe than sorry and to definately install a firewall
on
the laptop running 98SE. So I put the free version of Zone Alarm on the
laptop as recommended by my mate, as its only a small program. I am also
using the free version of AVG virus scanner as well and no problems with
that
at all. Now I am really confussed as I dont know if I do or do not need a
firewall on the laptop? Can someone help - please? Many thanks in
advance.
Mike.

As I said, your friends were both right. XP and its firewall protects the
ICS connection, and any additional firewall protection you have installed on
the XP machine does too, for the most part. So, for that matter, do many
major ISPs these days. The question is, when is enough too much? Myself, I
run ETrust EZ Firewall, which is based upon ZA, on every machine.

In short, it's your call. How many layers of protection do you need to feel
comfortable? Don't forget to accurately assess your potential risk--how much
critical data are you going to store on this system?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User


"MickY G" wrote in message
...
PS - I remember that when I first networked the PC and laptop together,
the
Windows XP/SP2 firewall asked me if I was networking, so maybe that
particular firewall is covering the laptop as well? Thank you. Mike

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

I'm confused. You *have* a firewall on the laptop called Zone Alarm,
correct?

You've been given decent advice by both friends. The only question that
might arise is if ZA on the laptop starts causing problems.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"MickY G" wrote in message
...
I have just networked my laptop and PC together and it is working
perfectly.
On my PC, I have XP Home and the Microsoft/SP2 firewall in operation.
My
laptop is running 98SE as its quite an old laptop and only a 5GB HDD at
the
moment. One of my mates said I don't need a firewall on the laptop as
its
networked to the PC and that has a firewall already and another of my
mates
says its better to be safe than sorry and to definately install a
firewall
on
the laptop running 98SE. So I put the free version of Zone Alarm on the
laptop as recommended by my mate, as its only a small program. I am
also
using the free version of AVG virus scanner as well and no problems
with
that
at all. Now I am really confussed as I dont know if I do or do not need
a
firewall on the laptop? Can someone help - please? Many thanks in
advance.
Mike.

Hi Gary

And thanks for the good advice! Always nice to know that there is someone
out there ready to help a total 'non-teckie' like me, who knows absolutely
squat (to use an American phrase) about networking, when they need help. I
think I will remove ZA as i really don't trust it after reading so much 'bad
press' about it? The laptop is basically another internet connection so my
friends can use the Internet as well at the same time, that's all. All the
important stuff is stored on my secondary HDD on the PC, so nowt important on
the laptop at all. Will give the firewall you use a try though, on the laptop
and see what happens. Once again, thank you very much for your assistance
Gary. Kind regards.

Mike
Rochester
UK

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

As I said, your friends were both right. XP and its firewall protects the
ICS connection, and any additional firewall protection you have installed on
the XP machine does too, for the most part. So, for that matter, do many
major ISPs these days. The question is, when is enough too much? Myself, I
run ETrust EZ Firewall, which is based upon ZA, on every machine.

In short, it's your call. How many layers of protection do you need to feel
comfortable? Don't forget to accurately assess your potential risk--how much
critical data are you going to store on this system?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User


"MickY G" wrote in message
...
PS - I remember that when I first networked the PC and laptop together,
the
Windows XP/SP2 firewall asked me if I was networking, so maybe that
particular firewall is covering the laptop as well? Thank you. Mike

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

I'm confused. You *have* a firewall on the laptop called Zone Alarm,
correct?

You've been given decent advice by both friends. The only question that
might arise is if ZA on the laptop starts causing problems.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"MickY G" wrote in message
...
I have just networked my laptop and PC together and it is working
perfectly.
On my PC, I have XP Home and the Microsoft/SP2 firewall in operation.
My
laptop is running 98SE as its quite an old laptop and only a 5GB HDD at
the
moment. One of my mates said I don't need a firewall on the laptop as
its
networked to the PC and that has a firewall already and another of my
mates
says its better to be safe than sorry and to definately install a
firewall
on
the laptop running 98SE. So I put the free version of Zone Alarm on the
laptop as recommended by my mate, as its only a small program. I am
also
using the free version of AVG virus scanner as well and no problems
with
that
at all. Now I am really confussed as I dont know if I do or do not need
a
firewall on the laptop? Can someone help - please? Many thanks in
advance.
Mike.

Just remember... If you enable file sharing on the XP machine, you open a
possible avenue of attack from the 98 machine should it become infected. If
the 98 machine is essentially stand-alone, and doesn't have access to the XP
machine, OK. Otherwise...:-[

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"MickY G" wrote in message
news
Hi Gary

And thanks for the good advice! Always nice to know that there is someone
out there ready to help a total 'non-teckie' like me, who knows absolutely
squat (to use an American phrase) about networking, when they need help. I
think I will remove ZA as i really don't trust it after reading so much
'bad
press' about it? The laptop is basically another internet connection so my
friends can use the Internet as well at the same time, that's all. All the
important stuff is stored on my secondary HDD on the PC, so nowt important
on
the laptop at all. Will give the firewall you use a try though, on the
laptop
and see what happens. Once again, thank you very much for your assistance
Gary. Kind regards.

Mike
Rochester
UK

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

As I said, your friends were both right. XP and its firewall protects the
ICS connection, and any additional firewall protection you have installed
on
the XP machine does too, for the most part. So, for that matter, do many
major ISPs these days. The question is, when is enough too much? Myself,
I
run ETrust EZ Firewall, which is based upon ZA, on every machine.

In short, it's your call. How many layers of protection do you need to
feel
comfortable? Don't forget to accurately assess your potential risk--how
much
critical data are you going to store on this system?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User


"MickY G" wrote in message
...
PS - I remember that when I first networked the PC and laptop together,
the
Windows XP/SP2 firewall asked me if I was networking, so maybe that
particular firewall is covering the laptop as well? Thank you. Mike

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

I'm confused. You *have* a firewall on the laptop called Zone Alarm,
correct?

You've been given decent advice by both friends. The only question
that
might arise is if ZA on the laptop starts causing problems.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"MickY G" wrote in message
...
I have just networked my laptop and PC together and it is working
perfectly.
On my PC, I have XP Home and the Microsoft/SP2 firewall in
operation.
My
laptop is running 98SE as its quite an old laptop and only a 5GB HDD
at
the
moment. One of my mates said I don't need a firewall on the laptop
as
its
networked to the PC and that has a firewall already and another of
my
mates
says its better to be safe than sorry and to definately install a
firewall
on
the laptop running 98SE. So I put the free version of Zone Alarm on
the
laptop as recommended by my mate, as its only a small program. I am
also
using the free version of AVG virus scanner as well and no problems
with
that
at all. Now I am really confussed as I dont know if I do or do not
need
a
firewall on the laptop? Can someone help - please? Many thanks in
advance.
Mike.