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Thread ID: 33331	2003-05-13 21:25:00	Advantages of using extra PC as Firewall?????	br0nwyn (3755)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
143874	2003-05-14 09:10:00	hehe you didnt read into the analogy very well... here's a copy and paste from the smoothwall documentation: Q. What is a firewall? A. A firewall is simply a system designed to prevent any unauthorised access to (or from) a private network of computer systems. This access control can be implemented by a hardware or software solution, or, as is often the case, a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent access to a private network – such as, for example, your company Intranet - from unauthorised Internet users. All information (in the form of network traffic) entering or leaving such a private network passes first through the firewall, which examines the nature of this information, and depending on the rules that are part of the configuration of the firewall, allows this network traffic to either pass unimpeded, or to block it from going any further. As you might well expect, there are many different methods in which this overall goal can be achieved. SmoothWall has been designed as a packet level filter - that is, each and every packet of network traffic that passes through a SmoothWall firewall is inspected and is then either permitted to continue onwards, or is denied. Q. Why do I need a firewall? A. Well, you don't have to have one. You don't have to have a lock on your front door either. Firewalls offer a level of protection from other would be unauthorised users of your network. There are a lot of people using the Internet these days, and some of them have no qualms about trying to get into your machine. If you don't want them there, you have two choices: a firewall or no connection to the Internet. Q. How is SmoothWall different from other firewalls? A. Some firewalls are software firewalls. They reside on the machine that is connected to the Internet, and act as a filter for information going in and out. The major drawback to a software firewall is that they have already connected to your box. It is like the difference between locking your front door, and locking your jewellery box. (nb. thats where I heard it! I remember now) Both are meant to keep your jewels safe, but one is obviously more effective. A hardware firewall (like a machine running SmoothWall) is between your network and the Internet. It forces anyone who wants to break in to have to go through an extra machine. The more work you make them do, the less likely they are going to want to spend the time on you. After all, the person down the street isn't protected at all. They are an easier target.	whetu (237)
143875	2003-05-14 22:04:00	Marshall and Whute summed up what I was gonna say.. They've already connected to your PC and so they know its there... if its hidden hehind another layer, then they might not! For home use.. a software-based one would suffice, but for any business - they should be able to at least afford an ol' 486 from TradeMe to put smoothwall on!	Chilling_Silently (228)
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