Firewalls: Router-v-Personal

[Jason]

Firewalls: Router-v-Personal


With a Belkin adsl model wireless router and XP HE, the only way to install file and printer sharing was to turn off XP firewall on the laptop and Norton Firewall on the desktop. I am concerned that this has increased the risk of intruders, although there is the Belkin router firewall. Does anyone have any ideas on if it is possible to reactivate the two personal firewalls without stopping my file and printer sharing by configuring the personal firewalls to allow my two computers access to each other while blocking external access. Does the router firewall give adequate protection on its own. One more question, has anyone any experience of the Belkin firewall and how to ensure that it is as up-to-date as possible and kept up-to-date?

[Charles]

I have just set up a Netgear wireless router and like you I have wondered about the need for a personal firewall. As far as I can see it is not necessary to implement a personal firewall, the router will block any attempts to attack your system.
However, the following can be used to enable file and printer sharing under Norton Firewall

1. Open Norton Personal Firewall
2. In the Security Centre, double-click Personal Firewall
3. In the Personal Firewall window, on the Advanced tab, click General rules
4. In the General Rules window, select the entry for Windows file sharing or printer sharing
5. Click Modify
6. In the Modify Rule dialogbox, on the Action tab, click Permit Internet Access
7. Click OK
8. In the General Rules dialog box, click OK
9. In the Advanced Firewall window, click OK