Got NOD32 AV, do we need a firewall
 

Hi

We've had probs getting on tinterweb this AM but after removing 'Sygate Personal Firewall' it now connects no worries. :)

So, we have NOD32 Antivirus 3.0, Virus Protection Software from ESET Do we need an additional firewall? :wonder:

:thumb:

I would prefer to use my computer withour ANY av than use NOD :(

You are better off using AVG and be more careful with your web browsing.

how do you connect to the internet? Modem? Router?

Yes, you need a firewall, viruses aren't the only threat.

Zone alarm is what I use as it tells you what's trying to get out as well as what's trying to get in.

(Why does windows defrag tool need to access the internet?)

NOD32 seems to be working fine, much less intrusive than mcafee. :)

We use a router, D-link DSL-G604AT :)

I should add we have the windows defender doodah with XP running :)

I wasn't too sure of what we have now (NOD) after reading about their other products. :)

Why? Just curious as NOD32 is the product most people arrive at after trying the others and realising how badly they suck, unless they're lucky and get a NOD32 recommendation early on. :confused:

I've been running it on 2 PCs (previously ver 2.7 but now ver 3.0) and it's great IMO, and I've tried AVG, Avast, Norton, Kaspersky and possibly others.

Regarding firewalls, I use the windows firewall on each PC, and my router has a hardware firewall in it anyway, that combo is plenty good enough for most people.

The router will block people trying to directly access your machine and as Hank Scorpio said above a software firewall can also watch what leaves your machine. IMO as a minimum a router with AV software should suffice but software firewalls can give extra beneifts

If you're running XP/Vista than at the absolute minimum I'd have the build in Windows Firewall activated. As others have said viruses aren't the only threat.
A few years back, for a laugh, we built a new PC and installed Norton on it and without the built in windows firewall enabled we plugged it into the unprotected side of our network (We had a hardware firewall with two sides, one was unprotected, ie; directly open to the internet, the other side was protected, and this is where the PC's usually lived). Within 15 seconds on plugging the machine into the network and thus it having a direct internet connection, Norton had picked up an attack, I think it was the Sasser worm.
Without Norton installed we would have had no idea the machine was infected.

If you want to go beyond the windows firewall then you could purchase something like Zone Alarm Pro, which is actually what I run on my XP setup, as I like the full control over everything it provides.

So what does this Virus Protection Software from ESET do that this Virus Protection Software from ESET doesn't, is it worth having both?

Smart Security is a Firewall as well as AV. Eset are plugging it heavily, in particular for Vista.


M

I run NOD32 + Zone Alarm on a router and don't get any trouble. Have tried other AV progs but they seem to slow the computer down alot.

You guys must be party animals, :p

I use nod 32 & vista firewall, all the others like norton and mcafee are dribble in comparison

My ten PCs at work run Nod 32, and windows defender with hardware firewall on the router.

Nod32 is the only modern AV that will run on a Pentium 3 processor with 256meg RAM without killing system performance.