Over the Top Firewall

Greetings,
I have been "luking" around the site for quite some time and am impessed with the amount of knowledge and lack of B.S. This is my first post, so go easy!! I"ve just upgraded my OS to XP-Pro (sp2). I'm on cable, Norton Anti, + MS Beta Spy. All current rev's. Lynksys hub, wired. I use this with Xbox and a laptop with 2000 Pro. I'm trying to stop the pop-ups, spam, and spyware. Deflector shields are set to "high" but I still get some. The kids do alot of P2P (ya i know) and IM. I sometimes think that this crap is just "tunnelling" to me. The xp firewall helps but here is the real question. I've heard of using an old pc for a firewall. I have an old p3 machine that I could use. I know that it could be a steep learning curve, but I thought I'd throw it out here and see what I get. Would I need to set up alot of alow or deny entries? The xp seems to only have a few options in it. Some say I should just get a different hub or switch with a firewall in it. What say ye!!

 

You know they say some of the best things in this life are free. I have to agree when you talk about browsers. Try Firefox by Mozilla, I have not seen a popup in over a year. As far as firewalls, you can't go wrong with old faithfull Zone Alarm. Get that set up and then do some research on other options. Im sure other geeks here have their own nitch' but what I have works for me.

If you were so inclined you could use that Old PC as a Proxy. Meaning all other computers would request internet access through that computer and it would do the filtering. For that you would need to install an additional network card and Proxy software.

The best option (in my opinion) would be to get that linksys hub swapped out with a $40.00 router with a 4 port switch built in. You would then have a *hardware* firewall between you and the internet and could hook up to 254 users. That coupled with a software firewall (Zone Alarm) but look around, youll be safe.

Good luck

 

Welcome to MG!
A few comments
If you use a PC for just firewall, it will need to be on to firewall the other PC's.
I dont Know all the pro's & con's of such.
I have 1/2 dozen PC's or so all networked, each run's software firewall, but I Also use a Router and a switch the switch connected off the router.
The router has hardware firewall set to stealth mode & some other security stuff setup, it also protect's my switch.
Norton, I dont like, I think most around here dont either, is bit of resourse hog.
There are many good free Anti virus & firewall app's avaible here at MG, see the front page.
Anti-Virus, I like Avast or AVG, firewall I like Sygate.
For pop up's, on your XP machine you have popup blocker with SP2, should work good.
As for the other PC's, you can run popup blocker app. or try using Firefox:
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2248
Can use Firefox on the XP pc too.

P2P has risk's sometimes dont know what your getting, Need to protect ya self.
You should also run Ad-Aware SE:
http://majorgeeks.com/download506.html
It will rid you of unwanted garbage
Run spywareblaster too:
http://majorgeeks.com/download2859.html

 

Dedub + Asus,
Thank you for your input. I used Firefox before I upgraded to XP. I thought with sp2 it might be better, guess not! I tried the Zone Alarm wall on an earlier OS (the short lived ME) but had issues. Probably user error. I think I will revisit the Firefox browser and perhaps change out my Linksys and look for a hardware wall to work along with the MS wall. Oh, and your right, about Norton, it's very hungry!!!