ISP /Wireless router/firewall choice

Hi

Now that the computers in this household are multiplying I am about to
take the jump from dialup to broadband. I currently have 2 desktops
with the Zonealarm firewall and a laptop running the Vista firewall.

I have been looking at the current broadband deals, BT is offering a
hub for £30 with option1 and AOL is offereing a free wireless router.

I notice that some wireless routers contain a firewall. Can anbody
tell me if the above hub/router contain a firewall and if they do not
would it be a better option to buy a wireless router conatining a
Firewall rather than relying on the separate software firewalls in my
three computers.

Any comments on BT or AOL as a choice or any other deals,
also welcome.

TIA

Dave

On Thursday, in article
<(E-Mail Removed)>
(E-Mail Removed) "David" wrote:

> I notice that some wireless routers contain a firewall. Can anbody
> tell me if the above hub/router contain a firewall and if they do not
> would it be a better option to buy a wireless router conatining a
> Firewall rather than relying on the separate software firewalls in my
> three computers.

There are various things a router can do which, while not strictly a
firewall, can provide a lot of extra trouble to a hacker or malicious
software. Even with a full firewall, there are things which can be done
with a software firewall on each machine. For instance, Zone Alarm is
quite good at watching for new software (or changed software) trying to
access the Internet.

I can't really give any specific recommendations, but if your software
firewalls work, there's no harm in keeping them operating. (Though the
Norton product has attracted some flak in these parts.)

--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

On the horizon, a carrier task force of the Salvation Navy was
turning into the wind, preparing to launch Zeppelins.

"David" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi
>
> Now that the computers in this household are multiplying I am about to
> take the jump from dialup to broadband. I currently have 2 desktops
> with the Zonealarm firewall and a laptop running the Vista firewall.
>
> I have been looking at the current broadband deals, BT is offering a
> hub for £30 with option1 and AOL is offereing a free wireless router.
>
> I notice that some wireless routers contain a firewall. Can anbody
> tell me if the above hub/router contain a firewall and if they do not
> would it be a better option to buy a wireless router conatining a
> Firewall rather than relying on the separate software firewalls in my
> three computers.
>
> Any comments on BT or AOL as a choice or any other deals,
> also welcome.
>
> TIA
>
> Dave

I personally would not choose an ISP on the basis of what hardware they
supply. Far better to pick the best ISP to suit your needs and then select a
suitable modem/router. If they supply a cheap USB modem, this is useful in
getting the system working initially and avoids arguments about "your
hardware" if it doesn't!
I was also strongly advised to keep the individual firewalls working in
addition to the one in the router

Retired

On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:09:55 -0000, "Retired" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>"David" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> Hi
>>
>> Now that the computers in this household are multiplying I am about to
>> take the jump from dialup to broadband. I currently have 2 desktops
>> with the Zonealarm firewall and a laptop running the Vista firewall.
>>
>> I have been looking at the current broadband deals, BT is offering a
>> hub for £30 with option1 and AOL is offereing a free wireless router.
>>
>> I notice that some wireless routers contain a firewall. Can anbody
>> tell me if the above hub/router contain a firewall and if they do not
>> would it be a better option to buy a wireless router conatining a
>> Firewall rather than relying on the separate software firewalls in my
>> three computers.
>>
>> Any comments on BT or AOL as a choice or any other deals,
>> also welcome.
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Dave
>
>I personally would not choose an ISP on the basis of what hardware they
>supply.
>
>Retired
>
Neither would I.
I have assumed that both AOL and BT seem to be good bets, however my
thoughts were that if the supplied hardware was lacking I might as
well buy a good wireless router with a firewall myself. The BT hub
appears to have a firewall, still not sure about the AOL offering.

And thanks both for your comments regarding keeping the software
firewalls.

Dave

On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:54:23 +0000 (GMT), (E-Mail Removed)
("David G. Bell") wrote:

>There are various things a router can do which, while not strictly a
>firewall, can provide a lot of extra trouble to a hacker or malicious
>software. Even with a full firewall, there are things which can be done
>with a software firewall on each machine. For instance, Zone Alarm is
>quite good at watching for new software (or changed software) trying to
>access the Internet.

Windows Defender seems to be quite vigilant too, as it gives lots of
warnings of any system changes. It comes as part of Vista, but there
is a version for XP that you can download separately for free.

Rod.