Category: Windows
by Dennis Faas, infopackets editor
http://www.infopackets.com
I'm stumped.
A while back I received a question which dealt with anti-hacker protection
... with a bit of a twist.
John S. asks:
" I just had my Laptop networked to my Desktop PC. I'm using a
DSL connection to the Internet.
I use a Linksys Cable/DSL Router, and
already have Black Ice (software firewall) installed on my Desktop PC.
Should I also add Black Ice to my Laptop? "
Something similar to this question was discussed in a previous Gazette
issue, way back in November of 2002.
RE:
Using a software
firewall and hardware firewall in tandem (Part 1).
In brief, this
article discussed how a router is an excellent way to hide yourself from
hackers on the 'net -- but may not be enough, especially if the router is
flawed (Linksys had some problems a while back). Having a software
firewall in addition to a router will surely add an extra layer of
protection.
However, I'm not sure if this is what John is asking.
Based
on the wording of John's question, it's possible that he has a 1-port router
used to connect his Desktop PC to the Internet, and an additional ethernet
card inside the Desktop PC to connect his Laptop.
It
gets a bit technical from here.
Now -- the question is: if the Desktop
PC has a software firewall and a router connection, and the laptop PC is
connected to the Desktop PC, does John need to run an additional software
firewall on the Laptop?
For example:
Internet connection -> Router (1
port) -> Desktop PC -> Laptop,
instead of
Internet connection ->
Router
(more than 1 port) -> Desktop PC AND Laptop
Know the answer? Email
me (below).
