1 edit | reply to DSL_Steve
Re: Leo Laport says software firewall not needed! said by DSL_Steve:This would be true if he was talking about a Mac and I'd be willing to bet he was. He's a big Mac advocate. Yes I know he loves mac but I am 100% sure he was talking about the PC. |
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| said by gate1975mlm:said by DSL_Steve:This would be true if he was talking about a Mac and I'd be willing to bet he was. He's a big Mac advocate. Yes I know he loves mac but I am 100% sure he was talking about the PC. Then I would say he is even more mistaken than I previously thought. My current employer is the legal E-publishing division of the world's largest publisher. We have multiple intrusion protection systems, blacklists, filters, etc., etc., etc. We have a ton of mixed local and wide-area networks with Sun and other UNIX servers, and even some Macs on the networks of companies we have recently acquired. So on our global network we are behind more routers than of which I am even aware. Despite all that, we require that all of our Dell desktops and laptops (an entirely different, and woefully unfortunate, story) run Windows XP SP2 with the latest security patches (an additionally regrettable OS choice). But they also must have McAfee VirusScan and McAfee Desktop Firewall. That's on every single PC, desktop or laptop, not to mention the server installations of such products. If they don't have that, and in addition the correct EPO agent (electronic policy orchestrator), the PC cannot log on to any LAN. Period. If they are remote and they also do not have all that, then they cannot use our Nortel VPN client to contact our network. And that is encrypted traffic anyway. We use policies in active directory to disable the craptastic Windows firewall, as well as WUS and microsoftupdate. Even then, we still have the occasional moron putting a floppy disc into his PC "just to see what's on it." But if the definitions and rule sets are not up to date on the PC in the cubicle next to him, then "viola!" it now has a new Nimda variant.
Then there is my Mac at home.  I have a router connecting my Dell desktop from work and the Mac, but I run Intego's NetBarrier for OS X anyway. If you know anything about the Mac program LittleSnitch, it alerts the user to an application attempting to initiate an outgoing network connection. NetBarrier has that capability built-in, with Always Allow, Allow Once and Deny options. Routers don't do that in an easily-configurable and user-friendly way. And I prefer to keep the router as wide-open as possible due to the variety of activities in which I engage. It sounds like Leo either a) has no idea what he's talking about, or b) operates a computer somehow detached from reality. Just my 2c. |
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 GeekNJPremium
join:2000-09-23
Waldwick, NJ | said by crypto7ogic:It sounds like Leo either a) has no idea what he's talking about, or b) operates a computer somehow detached from reality. Just my 2c. Nah... he just doesn't hear voices and think they are talking about him. 
Seems you're into security. Looks like you are spending more time concentrating on your security infrastructure then actually using the Internet.
He was describing a corporate environment. He was describing Joe Average User at home.
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| said by GeekNJ:Nah... he just doesn't hear voices and think they are talking about him. Looks like you are spending more time concentrating on your security infrastructure then actually using the Internet. He was describing a corporate environment. He was describing Joe Average User at home. If I'm not on the Internet at work, I am at home!  It doesn't get more Joe Average than a Mac, but I find that a Mac + NetBarrier is all I need... I get made fun of at work for using "a mommy and daddy computer" (it's from some tech-support comedy sketch) but ironically it's secure as hell. I would think a firewall would be necessary for any Windows user more so than any Mac user.... |
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| reply to GeekNJ
He was describing a corporate environment. He was describing Joe Average User at home
Make up your mind; which is it? |
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