Wifi and software firewall?

Hey everyone I need a little advice. At home I am behind a router so I never saw much need to have a software firewall installed on the computer. I have System Safety monitor though to monitor registry and application changes, dll injections, etc.

I now bring my laptop to campus and have Wifi set up. I connect to their network through a VPN that I have to log into with a user name and password. I this secure enough, or should I ditch SSM and get a software firewall?

If a software firewall is a good idea, which one leaves the smallest footprint?


Thanks a lot,

Javyn

 

If you have Windows XP, I'd probably just use the firewall that's included with it. If not, then ZoneAlarm is pretty decent. http://majorgeeks.com/download388.html

 

ugh, used zone alarm years ago, found it bloated and impossible to completly uninstall. does the winxp firewall monitor outbound connections or just inbound?

PS> Sorry forgot to thank you for the reply. How rude of me heheh My apologies

 

ZoneAlarm is a lot better in that respect than it used to be, in my opinion at least. Windows Firewall as it is doesn't give you any relevant info like that unless you install Service Pack 2, but from what I've been reading about that is that there's some compatability issues, which a lot of vendors are addressing.

So far my only problem with SP2 is compatability with a database app, but even then it didn't hinder anything on my machine in terms of absolute funcitionality... meaning the database app was something I was just playing around with and didn't absolutely need to have it. And you're welcome I just hope that what I'm saying makes sense and can help

 

I wouldn't rely on the XP firewall at all. Leak Tester shows it up as pretty hopeless.
I like Zone Alarm, although it has given me some strife at times.

 

Hello, if you have XP the SP2 has increased protectection for wifi !! Don't know if your ready to take the leep LOL,,,I have it installed for 2 months,,got as a beta and all is well and good,,PS zone alarm could not hurt at all,,as a extra wall, Glenn

 

Firewall and protection from the Internet has nothing to do with Wireless. Every computer that goes to the Internet (wired and Wireless) should be protected with Router and software Firewall

Why?

Link: Basic Protection for Broadband Internet Installation.

Link to: Internet infestation -Or, how you are getting Internet “Junk” in and compromise your Computer/Network?

Wireless suffers from additional Local Security problem (nothing to do with Internet).

Link to: Wireless Security.

 

thanks for the replies guys, btw I DO have SP2

 

and yes, i do have 128 bit WEP enabled, and MAC filtering. But I don't think either of these matter for my wifi connetion on campus (that is a VPN I have to log into with a user name and password).

I'd go ahead and reinstall ZA but like I said earlier, last time i used it, it had gotten overly bloated, and gave me major problems trying to access shared directories and printers on my home network.

 

I have the SP2 on my laptop,,,and Im at starbucks alot,,,and its a open network,,,,no WEP or VPN,,,,and the new features in the service pack do protect my PC,,,PS just disable zone alarm at home if you do install and causes problems at home !!! Glenn