Firewall vs Anti-virus

[Greg]

What do you think is more important if you could have only one?

Anti-virus, or firewall?

(this is assuming you use the Internet)

I've just been asked by a friend who wants to install an anti-virus programme onto his daughter's computer, and I recommended get the firewall software first.

[Chilling_Silence]

I only use AV, firewall off all the time as it gets in the way of VPN'ing, gaming and other such things.

[wainuitech]

Antivirus - A firewall wont stop any infections coming through as they require the internet connection, and a firewall will allow the internet connection pass through. Thus you will get infected.

BUT why only one you can get free applications of both. ?

[Greg]

[QUOTE=wainuitech;840667]Antivirus - A firewall wont stop any infections coming through as they require the internet connection, and a firewall will allow the internet connection pass through. Thus you will get infected.

You could be VERY wrong there....

The firewall will STOP any intrusions. That is its raison de tre.

[wainuitech]

[QUOTE=Greg;840677]

Antivirus - A firewall wont stop any infections coming through as they require the internet connection, and a firewall will allow the internet connection pass through. Thus you will get infected.

You could be VERY wrong there....

The firewall will STOP any intrusions. That is its raison de tre.

Oh and you see the results every day like I do with a dozen or so computers a month badly infected - and they are running only a firewall ??

MANY have both crap AV's like AVG, Norton, and firewalls, all riddled with infections.

How do you think infections come through ?? on the open ports that the internet needs to work.

A firewall may stop a hacker for example but it WONT stop Malware or viruses.

IF you have just a firewall I hope you will offer to clean out your friends PC for free when its infected.

You want proof / go here - download the file, its a fake virus for testing, a firewall will let it through, but a good antivirus will stop it.

[stormdragon]

Are firewall also won't help with infections that come in via devices such as flash drives.

As Wainui said you can get decent free solutions for both so you only choose one?

[pctek]

A firewall won't stop you downloading or installing stuff and it sure won't tell you about viruses.

[robsonde]

What do you think is more important if you could have only one?

Anti-virus, or firewall?

(this is assuming you use the Internet)

I've just been asked by a friend who wants to install an anti-virus programme onto his daughter's computer, and I recommended get the firewall software first.

which is more important...

flu shots ?
or good locks on your doors?

a firewall will stop some kinds of attacks.
anti-virus will stop other kinds of attacks.



if your friend has ADSL then its a good bet they have a NAT router.
a NAT router is a basic firewall.

the microsoft firewall is also a basic free option.



if you friend wants free anti-virus then there are sevral options.

AVG-free - ok but no that good.
avast - quite good.
microsoft security essentials - very good.


I did a blog post on this a while back...
http://brightwork.wordpress.com/2008...ocket-science/




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[Agent_24]

You need both.

[Speedy Gonzales]

I'm only using an AV. Used to use a fw, when I was on dialup, but not now. Altho, there's no point having an AV or firewall program, if you use P2P programs. You may as well, share the whole hdd, forget about installing patches, and invite hackers, trojans, worms and viruses