Router went kaput today

For the time being, I am without my router. ATM, buying a new one is not an option so I need some advice.

What is the best, free firewall program today? I got really spoiled to my hardware firewall and have not installed a software one in years. I will be getting a new router within the week so all I need is a temporary software firewall to hold me over.

Thanks for any/all advice.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

A hardware one ...

If you're getting a router later this week, just be careful at what you're doing online and such. Then once you do get a router, tidy everything up. Unless you're using IE to look at a lot of questionable sites, it should be fine.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

I visit here. Thats about my extent ATM.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

You should be fine then unless someone suddenly goes, "I want to gain access to this guys computer randomly", which wont happen since, what would make more sense is they upload a file that runs at your next startup that tells them they have access or that sends information back (key loggers, shell exploits, etc)

But you can get those through cookies too, if the owner writes them for that purpose.

That isn't the case here.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

There's a free version of Zone Alarm, I think. You might want to try it out.

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What the Snarkpitters listen to!

Dammit to hell, I already have s**t coming through. I suppose its zone alarm time.

Thanks Otzman

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I can't wait to get my new router. This zone alarm blocks to many things. :sad:

Better overly cautious I suppose.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Underdog are you using FireFox or IE?

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Life is like a box of chocolates u never know what you'll get you might get a.....scream.

SuperCobra said:
Underdog are you using FireFox or IE?

Don't ask. I already read the 12 hundred posts on the glory of Firefox and do not want to see another round over this. :heee:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Is a hardware firewall like one in a router as good as, better or worse
than a software firewall. Does a hardware firewall provide sufficient
protection by itself?

and you should use Firefox... :wink:

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What the Snarkpitters listen to!

Hardware firewall is better.

it's an actual board and such as opposed to some code. Code can ALWAYS be circumvented. A hardware firewall is much more difficult to do so. At least that's my understanding and that's the way it is in a lot of computer related areas, so I imagine it follows the same trend. But I've never had any courses or read books/articles on firewalls ... yet.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Perhaps I could stop using a software firewall then as I have a router with one.

Funny though that Zone Alarm apparently has blocked 12121 intrusions of
which 382 were critical since install, which was a week or two ago.

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What the Snarkpitters listen to!

In the four years since I purchased my router, no one has gained access to any of my PC's. (to my knowledge)

Also, since I have installed zonealarm, I have had to constantly give permission to things, my router took care of any permissions. In other words, I was never hassled to do anything. ever so often, I had to set a port or two, but thats my choice, it was never forced upon me.

I will be getting a new router soon.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Yeah, software has the little problem of having a higher chance of errors. Also, one other thing I didn't mention, the system resources that a software firewall would use would be completely free (which is to say: a hefty chunk).

Now, don't mistake what I'm saying as "you need no more protection". A combination of a hardware firewall and an anti-virus should be good enough for general use. Using a non-microsoft Internet anything is another good idea. (Just because they integrate everything into the OS and or your user, which most likely has administration access, or is the administrator, Which I suggest changing immediately.)

I've had the problem with Norton a few times with a "Internet worm threat". It's very annoying because it sees game servers as Internet worms, which I'm sure is a common source. But, for some reason, when I was playing Far Cry (as a server at a LAN) is just wouldn't let people in and wouldn't stop asking me if it can permit them. I ended up turning the damn thing off because it just wouldn't let up. The odd thing is, in the settings it was a permitted slot for Far Cry and several other games. It only did it with FC though.

But, don't be concerned with the "amount of threatening attacks" a firewall program will report. It's over embellishing. There's no way to completely protect your computer, so moderate protection that allows you to actually use the computer's resources is best.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

As I haven't been able to figure out how to forward ports, I've enabled DMZ on my router. Is doing so of any risk?

Crono said:
Now, don't mistake what I'm saying as "you need no more protection". A
combination of a hardware firewall and an anti-virus should be good
enough for general use. Using a non-microsoft Internet anything is
another good idea. (Just because they integrate everything into the OS
and or your user, which most likely has administration access, or is
the administrator, Which I suggest changing immediately.)

Do you mean I should change my account from an administrator account to a limited one?

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What the Snarkpitters listen to!

OtZman said:
As I haven't been able to figure out how to forward ports, I've enabled DMZ on my router. Is doing so of any risk?

The short answer: HELL YES!!!

Anyone who is smart enough to make a map, should be able to sort out a port. I suggest you do so.

"PRESS THAT RESET BUTTON IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER!"

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

OtZman said:
As I haven't been able to figure out how to forward ports, I've enabled DMZ on my router. Is doing so of any risk?

The short answer: HELL YES!!!

Anyone who is smart enough to make a map, should be able to sort out a port. I suggest you do so.

"PRESS THAT RESET BUTTON IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER!"

*checks selfs control panel... "You have:
listed 0 maps..."

:wink:

Ok, I suppose I'll try to learn how to do it then.

Are there any applications or something that can be used to test and see if certain ports are forwarded or not?

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What the Snarkpitters listen to!

The only time you even need one is when you desire someone to access you. I only ever needed the port open to HL1 so people could find me when I ran a map for them.

I see no reason for any other ports to be open unless you need them to find you. Otherwise, keep them all shut.

There is a website someplace that has online documentation for most all routers. Perhaps someone here recalls the URL?

My mapping skills have no relevance to routers. :sad:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

BitTorrent uses a certain range of ports. So I'll need to forward them
for full connectivity, so it'd be useful if I could check and see if
the ports are forwarded properly.

I've found this website: http://www.portforward.com

They seem to have documentation and step by step guides on how to setup and forward ports.

I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for all help so far.

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What the Snarkpitters listen to!

Anytime.

You think by this time next year members will stop referring to my maps, or lack there of when referencing my knowledge base?

I am not after all, the only member map free. :rolleyes:

Hell, I answered one editing question. I'm moving up in the world. :heee:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Jesus, just go into the routers configuration. Most of them (I haven't run into one that didn't have this) have a html interface. You just type in the ip address of the router into your browser address bar.

If you have a specific application that uses a certain port, you can go and change the ports very quickly before using the application and if you're really concerned you can change them back when you're done.

But, resetting the router every time? That's just retarded.

Anyway, to find your router's ip, just go: start >> run >> cmd >> ipconfig

Take the ip address, which is x.x.x.x setup, and put in the first three number, then the last one will be a 1. So, for example, 168.192.3.1

All the computers on that router will begin with 168.192.3 then will have a number.

As for whether using the built in utilities or a third party utility is "better" or easier. I'd say just use the built in one, since it is a GUI and is very easy to use.

For example

That is the configuration interface built into my router. Most all routers have the same feature. It allows you to control everything, even reset it if need be.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Crono</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>But, resetting the router every time? That's just retarded.

</DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
Do you just automatically be disdainful or do you take weekly lessons in such?

No place in this entire thread did it say to reset each time. I said to reset it now because its open to the world and it is the fastest way to snap all the ports shut. I imagine that Otzman knows how to get into the admin area since he obviously found the DMZ section so humiliating him into submission was un-necessary.

You seem to be one of the smartest members here. Why do you torture yourself with us less gifted members? There has got to be a site someplace where you are not the gifted one.

If I ever need help, I would like to be able to come TO YOU. Right now, I feel my stupidity would only insult and/or inflame you into more disdainful words. Correct me if I'm wrong, but do so with a minimum of snide phrases.

</DIV>

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Unless you do something significant on your PC, or hold alot of interesting data, then your making a big fuss out of nothing, like most people do... I didn't use a firewall or any form of net protection till windows firewall came out with SP2, and I never got a single piece of spyware or anything.

Why? Because I'm not an idiot! The simple way to not get infections is to think about what your doing and what pages you visit. Theres too much hype about net security nowadays.

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-[Better to be Honest than Kind]-

Wtf

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Crono said:
Wtf

Stop acting innocent.

@Myrk, I only turned my PC on last night (after I discovered my router went on the fritz) and crap started popping up from no place. It even went so far as to somehow turn ICQ on. I haven't had ICQ on any of my computers in well over 3 years. Lets assume I am a complete moron for the moment. HOW THE HELL DID ICQ GET ON MY PC?

Anyway, I got spoiled to my router. I have been clean for all this time with it.

Perhaps, I got complacent, but I loved my hardware firewall.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

My mapping skills have no relevance to routers. :sad:

You think by this time next year members will stop referring to
my maps, or lack there of when referencing my knowledge base?
I am not after all, the only member map free. :rolleyes:

I was refering to my own lack of maps and mapping skills. When you
said any one smart enough to make a map should be able to configure, I
couldn't help to remember that I haven't released a single map. :wink:

Crono, I knew most of that. I've tried to forward ports before to get
maximum connectivity in BitTorrent, but it never seemed to work. Don't
know if it was because I had Zone Alarm installed at the same time or
what.

However, I've re-configured the router, uninstalled Zone Alarm and
now the port forwarding seems to be working as it's supposed to.

So, thanks for the help.

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What the Snarkpitters listen to!

OtZman said:
I was refering to my own lack of maps and mapping skills. When you said any one smart enough to make a map should be able to configure, I couldn't help to remember that I haven't released a single map. :wink:

I seem to be getting a bit touchy. Almost every time I try to express my opinion, someone mentions my lack of maps.

I welcome another map free member whom is cognizant of his own profile insufficiencies. :smile:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Stop acting innocent.

No, seriously, what are you talking about?

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Crono said:
No, seriously, what are you talking about?

You are incredulous beyond arrogance it seems. Be that as it may, you slighted Otzman not I so if he has no issues how can I?

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

you slighted Otzman not I

I didn't slight anyone you douche.

if he has no issues how can I?

You seem to have plenty.

You are incredulous beyond arrogance it seems.

What's with the personal, unfounded, attacks? I didn't put something up in a condescending tone, so that perception is coming from you; you alone.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

By the way be careful with the hardware you choose as I have this story:

At a primary school, they bought new mouses that said they were compatible with all computers. Now these computers were also new and they tested a mouse out and suddenly BANG!

The computer fried and they called a tech to fix...

He tried another computer with a mouse and that also went BANG!

So they found out that the hardware had damaged compenents sending electric shocks up the mother board...

So my tip is to always use your product hardware e.g. I use a DELL so dell mouses and scanners are my best bet to saving a computer.

By the way be careful with the hardware you choose as I have this story:
At a primary school, they bought new mouses that said they were compatible with all computers. Now these computers were also new and they tested a mouse out and suddenly BANG!
The computer fried and they called a tech to fix...
He tried another computer with a mouse and that also went BANG!
So they found out that the hardware had damaged compenents sending electric shocks up the mother board...
So my tip is to always use your product hardware e.g. I use a DELL so dell mouses and scanners are my best bet to saving a computer.

It's very rare that a product will do that simply because there's a standard in which all x86 related hardware must follow. If a certain product does that, the company can have legal action taken against them, depending on the circumstance.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.