Tell me why multiple Firewalls and AV's are bad.

OK, I understand having multiple AV's and firewalls are bad because they conflict with each other. But there is a person in my electronics class who, despite my arguing, won't listen to me. I need to know a bit more so that I can convince him that having multiple firewalls (he claims to have 4 software firewalls!) is a big no no! :confused

(PS, I tried to think of it as a baseball game. When the baseball is hit into the air its eventually going to fall to the field (the ball being the problem, the field your computer) and if two players are trying to catch it at the same time (players being firewalls) then all they are going to do is hit each other, fall backwards, look stupid and not prevent anything from happening, could be wrong about my analogy)

Thanks guys,
Axis

 

>> Re: Tell me why multiple Firewalls and AV's are bad. Axis304 <<

Many of the available antivirus types of programs out there (both freeware and shareware) simply do not "play nice" or work well with each other and there isn't a single antivirus program website on the web that advises doing this - having two AV programs installed and/or especially having both running side-by-side. That fact - in itself - says quite a lot.

I would also say no to running two software firewalls at the same time. One could cause conflict and crash the other. If you want to run two firewalls, install a "Hardware Firewall" instead and use your software firewall for controlling outbound applications.

You'll actually probably get the best firewall protection by cascading a hardware router or firewall with a robust software firewall. If you have a broadband connection you may well want to do that. It's very unlikely that software and hardware firewalls will conflict with each other, but it may make it more difficult to trouble-shoot connection problems when they are in cascade.

No matter which firewall you choose, you need to test it. Any competent online test will tell you if it's working or not. It's a good idea to retest your firewall once a month or so too. A good firewall has become more important than any other protective measure, including anti-virus. If you already have a firewall, you should test it at least once a month to make sure it's really working

I would never run more than one 3rd party firewall installed, to avoid conflicts. The conflicts happen as they both need kernel drivers to intercept TCP/IP traffic, and they are fighting over the same resource. One firewall will be the 'big dog', and the other firewall will basically get what the first one allows.

Additionally, a targeted web search regarding this matter (such as Google search: running two firewalls) will reveal many posts in forums throughout the web where people had numerous problems having and running two anti-virus programs and/or two firewalls. At the same time, users will likely find very few forum posts anywhere on the web; where people who had two of these programs installed and running at the same time actually benefited in any way from using this method.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks a lot, that puts it into a clearer perspective for me now. If anyone has anything else to add then please do so, or any interesting articles to add to the subject.

 

Hi,
Having reached the grand age of Senior Citizenship I have learned a lot of lessons. We learn from each other, we know. My advice the same as all our colleagues above, plus, if he does not take the above advice on board, leave it with him and let it be his problem. Cheers.
Boneyeye