Firewall on all the time?

I am finally getting DSL after using Dial-Up for years! My question is, when I install a firewall (i have never used one with dial-up), does it need to be on all the time even when I am not online? Or does the firewall only need to be running when I have my browser open? Advice appreciated.. thanks

 

Best to leave it on all times, your ip still active even you arent using browser. If you want safe surfing, use proxy.

 

how about when I launch a game? I don't stil leave the firewall on right?

 

You may have to "poke holes" in your firewall when you game. Just be sure to close them up or at least be sure you have minimum exposure.
I leave mine up 24/7.

 

even with dial up mine is forever up...

some where out there is someone with more time on there hands and cleverer than the peiple that wrote the fire wall... so all we are doing really is buying time... keep it up always....

 

so for the record, running the firewal in the background while gaming does not hurt performance of the game?

 

The firewall will effect performance simply because you have another program running in the background. If you have a good enough computer the extra resource requirement will carry a neglible effect on your games. If you hava a crappy computer than the firewall will noticably affect you computer performance.

 

I disable my firewall when I'm gaming online because The All Seeing Eye won't scan for servers properly if I have my firewall on. Gaming itself is also very slow (normal ping times 10 atleast).

I have more problems because of files I downloaded with KaZaa than I have with disabling my firewall. (worms in files)
But I have an up to date virusscanner that gets a hold of that problem.

 

Depends, if you get DSL, and you have to make a connection to get to the internet, you don't have to. But, if you get cable(like me) as soon as you turn you're computer on, you have acces to internet, so you should configure it to start up when you first turn on you're comp.

Hope this helps.

 

Almost forgot, if you play games, but not against others, you will want to stop all traffic(option that comes with firewalls) cause if somebody scans you're ports while you're playing , your firewall will warn you, which will stop your fun pretty fast (basically you will loose your image until you tell your firewall to accept or deny acces).