Do I Need a Firewall With ADSL?

Hi people,

Several people have told me that firewalls are dinosaurs when you have ADSL as the modem is a mini router that a hacker can't get through to break into the PC.

So the question is simple true or false?

 

I still recommend a software firewall to keep outbound apps from accessing the net.

Hope this helps,

Chris

 

I believe the answer is false. An ADSL modem does not act in the same way as a router.

It's easy to check. Do the port probe at Shields Up: https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 with the Windows firewall off and then check it again with it on. You will get the same result if the modem is acting like a router. You will get different results if it's not.

HTH

 

Thanks for the tip. Both tests came up "PASSED"

So this means a firewall is not required to stop hackers...right?

 

well it means that ur modem acts like a firewall, but a software firewall is still nice for controlling outbound connections.

 

I know that all the ports show up as stealthed with the Windows firewall on. If that's what you got with it switched off then you don't need a firewall to stop incoming connections.

You may want to consider the suggestion from Chris12923 and WSFuser. That part's a personal choice you have to make.

 

Outbound connections?

I know some applications have to or choose to 'phone home' but what about spys / hackers?

Can they (spies / hackers) set up something in my PC to "phone home" to them?
How do they do it?

(This question may sound silly or simple...but truly me and probably thousands of others have never given two seconds thought to this "dark-side" stuff.)

 

well if u somehow let malware get onto ur computer, it can then connect out if there no program (like a firewall with application control) to stop it.

of course, not all malware phones home, but some do.

 

Nowadays the majority of it, I'd say.

 

Take a look here: http://antivirus.about.com/library/weekly/aa100400a.htm

and here: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/remote_access_trojans.mspx

 

You might learn some reading this link about outbound control:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,15988690

Jarmo

 

Some ADSL modems are actually routers, with ADSL circuitry. And some of these types of ADSL modem's firewalls are configurable by the user. But not all. I would definitely "RTFM".

I would NEVER access the Internet via a broad-band connection UNLESS there was also a firewall of some sort activated and in use on my connection BEFORE a signal even reached the Ethernet port on my computer. The best and easiest way to do this is via a NAT router which has a configurable firewall. Another way is by using a software firewall on my machine which will firewall the modem directly, such as ZoneLabs products.

Considering that most hackers specifically look for broadband connections almost exclusively, firewalling your ADSL connection is a MUST in this day and age.

So yes, you DO need to use a firewall (of some sort) with your ADSL modem. Especially if the ADSL modem does not contain a hardware firewall which is directly configurable by the user.