Do I need a firewall softwre?
Q: Or should I just stick w / windows firewall?
Re:yeah you need a software firewall while you are at college.
Re:Then hell yeah, use a software firewall! I suppose windows firewall would work just fine, but I'm sure some people like more tweakability.
Re:I cant have a router because im at college and they dont allow it.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
This might stop spyware and viruses communicating with their makers, and will prevent a human attacker using a 'reverse shell'.
Fixed.
Re:Do you have a router? If so, what's the model?
-dB
Re:Stick with the Windows firewall + NAT Router.
Re:Assuming you have a NAT router or the windows firewall, and you're not running any net services, the only advantage of another firewall is to control outgoing traffic. This will stop spyware and viruses communicating with their makers, and will prevent a human attacker using a 'reverse shell'. IMO that sort of thing is only really nescesary on a PC with a lot of unknown users – it should stop them inadvertantly compromising the machine by downloading and running dodgy crap.
Re:I don't use a software firewall besides the Windows firewall. My machine sits behind an encrypted wireless router, though.