Hello,

I have a home network (Belkin) hub which other wireless PC's can join with the passkey. But, also I have noticed that "Firewall & Anti-Virus Suites" can include further protection.

In my apprentice mind on these subjects, can I ask is the further protection needed or simply the hubs passkey (and it's firewall and WPA-Personal [PSK]), is 'eloquent sufficiency'?

Regards,
Frederick.

DJ Rick

The simple answer to your question is NO.

And here is why, your firewall will give you some protection against unauthorised entry into your PC but viruses usually don't try to get into your PC by brute force. They tend to either piggy back on authorised downloads, are embedded in with other software or are disguised as an application or utility.

Now, once pass your firewall "your PC's goose will probably be cooked".

That is why you need, as part of your protective arsenal, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, a firewall is just not enough.



UK Bob

PS. WPA encryption is now considered too easy to crack, most experts now recommend WPA2.

However, I was referring to the security of the Network Router, in particular. I have learned that since it has it's own Firewall, with Security Passkey and WPA-2, that's pretty good security.

And, on the PC side of things, as you have mentioned, I also run Kaspersky (PC Firewall and Antivirus - Internet Suite). And in addition, an occasional check by Malwarebytes - AntiMalware (I'm sure you know it's freely available, although I have purchased a 'license' because I think it's so-good and only around $35AUD).

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate your help in this matter... it's that 'one' can get immediate answers through these forums!

Best Regards,
Frederick.
[Brisbane, Australia]

Now that I understand security for Home Network Routers, it has raised another possibility, ie Internet Suite programs ask whether to place the newly found network in the "Internet - Public Places" or "Trusted - Home, Office, etc" zone.

I have always selected the "Trusted - Home Zone", even when I had only 1 PC on the Web. It seems I may have done myself a dis-service.

Nonetheless, now that I have a Home Network through a Router, I have them all set to LAN Home - Trusted, and presume that's correct?

But, what is to stop a virus entering 1 PC and spreading it to all the other PC's in my Local Home Network?

This question has come to mind because ZoneAlarm suggests the choice of setting the Network Connection (LAN or Otherwise) to "Trusted" and there is no provision to set the "Internet connection to Public" for tighter security (as does Kaspersky). Of course, I am presuming that is what Kaspersky's settings mean in the Firewall section.

Well Frederick

Since I totally misunderstood your first post I propose to start there, your second post seem to suggest that you are worried about the security facilities on your router (I thought you were worried about malware getting passed your router and onto your PCs).

Although, theoretically, a router can be infected with a virus I have never (ever) heard of this being done, so though this is a possibility it is highly unlikely. It would be far easier for a hacker to plant something on your PC (through trickery) than on your hardware router.

You said: I would ask, do you share files between your PCs because if you do then an infected file on one PC will spread to your other PCs that share the infected file.

I currently have two PCs on my network and, in the recent past, up to four, three desktops and one laptop. To protect my PC I have switched off all sharing and network facilities within XP so that I cannot get “accidentally” infected by one of my son’s machine.

However, if you must share files then I suggest you run full and frequent anti-virus scans on each networked PC.



UK Bob

OK, thanks again... I sometimes do share files/printers... so as you've pointed out that's a risk.

I do run frequent scans because I've had a nasty experience with a virus named "äve.exe" - it's appears with a screen duplicate of M'Softs Security Centre, and potentially can scan the PC (and installs keyloggers in your browser), sending info back to the virus-maker... if there's anything useful (such as passwords, etc) for the virus-maker to wreak even more havoc on the victim.

I used PCTools SpywareDoctor to disinfect, but that wasn't entirely successful, so I had to go back to scratch and re-install the whole PC (ensuring a complete format of the hard disk).

Since then I'm using Kaspersky Internet Suite, which was recommended to me (instead of ZoneAlarm, which doesn't detect "ave.exe"... well, it didn't for me). And an occasional check with Malwarebytes - AntiMalware.

Best Regards,
Frederick.