Firewall function affecting projects differently

Post by **UBT - Timbo** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:58 am

Hi all,

Like others, I run a few PC's which are linked to the 'net via a common router.

I recently changed routers (to a Draytek Vigor 2800G) and in setting up the new router, somehow I tweaked one of the firewall settings, namely this one:

Drop non-http connection on TCP port 80

The strange effect is that some projects don't mind this being "active" such as RieselSieve and WCG.

But others, such as SHA-1, Cosmology and POEM all stopped uploading results with this function "enabled".

On the one hand I'm glad all the projects now upload their results correctly, but on the other hand, I'm surprised that the "mechanism" for uploading the results differs from project to project...!

regards,

Tim

Zydor · Post by **Zydor** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:12 pm

Most will sware on their mother's grave that their Firewall is the best to use ..... so bit of a health warning there, with firewalls its as much a subjective choice in terms of ease of use etc, as it is the firewall's intrinsic ability. No matter the claim, or who it comes from, at the end of the day as a general proposition the "paid for" Firewalls are better. However Free Firewalls most times suit the threat need for individuals.

Analogy .... no point in an alarm system for the house that is capable of protecting Fort Knox or the Bank of England, that level of threat just is not there. Similarly, its easy to cook up all sorts of armagedeon stories re Firewalls, but truth is with the more sophisticated threats/protection vast majority of us don't have valuable enough information etc on our PCs to make it worth the more sophisticated kind of thug/hacker bother with us - no matter how miffed we may get at that depressing conclusion rofl

Try looking at this list: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb- ... 38214.aspx

Of the Free ones I prefer PCTools, been around for Decades - excellent history and pedigree, does the business well, and you can move onto the paid version if you want to. ZoneAlarm and MacAfee are others often touted about, wouldnt go wrong with those either.

Bare in mind you will also need to get an anti-virus checker as well, else they will pick up various horrors in their travels.

Another more controversial route is Nortons anti-V and Firewall. Relatively expensive, and greedy on system resources. Is it very invasive (for a reason, its like Fort Knox if used properly), and is by far the Firewall/Anti-V of choice in the Private Sector/Industry/Finance. You do get alot for your money though - including a specific module designed for parents wanting to control Kids acess etc.

Pays your money (or not!) and takes your choice at the end of the day, but I'd go for PCTools, and see how it suits, if it doesnt its likely the functionality to do with controlling the kids - at that point reach into the pocket and go Nortons, just be aware it takes work to get used to Nortons and to set it up properly.

Also worth investigating your Router more closely, the better ones have modules restricting access to various classes of Sites - Pornographic, Violence, Drugs etc - and customisable ways to block individual Sites. Also make sure your Router Hardware Firewall is turned on as well as your chosen software firewall - amazing how often that gets forgotten, hardware firewalls as well as software firewalls very useful.

Regards
Zy

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:41 pm

In terms of firewalls, like Zydor said it really depends on who you talk to. When i was researching which one was best i found Comodo Firewall was the best for me as it came top (at the time) in all the firewall leak tests.

In terms of protecting kids online i would use the free service OpenDNS which offers content filters for around 30 different types of category. They have some good tutorials showing how you can protect individual computers and/or entire networks by configuring the router.

Hope that is of some help.

Joshrandom · Post by **Joshrandom** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:49 pm

I could be wrong about this gentlemen, but since this is a rather old thread, and danielle's first post is, shall we say, rather generic, there is a vague whiff of pork luncheon meat in the air.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:54 pm

Did seem odd i must admit :lol: But you raise a good point there Mr Random... D'oh

Zydor · Post by **Zydor** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:01 pm

Ben wrote: .. the free service OpenDNS which offers content filters for around 30 different types of category. They have some good tutorials showing how you can protect individual computers and/or entire networks by configuring the router....

Oooo .... I'll tuck that one away, thats a useful facility I wasnt aware they did. Thanks for that one :thumbleft:

Regards
Zy

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:06 pm

No problem :D

Been using it now for a few years, i find it is better then the ISP's DNS's generally (especially BT's **boooo hissss!**)

melter65 · Post by **melter65** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 6:59 am

'danielle's' grammar seems to be a cut above the average spammer, plus the lack of links means I'll not delete the post just yet and send her/him a message.

Thanks for flagging this one up, Mr Random :D

Zydor · Post by **Zydor** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:58 pm

It was the lack of links that derailed me

..... but now she's put them in, Silly Billy

Feeding Time for the Hounds :laughing6:

Regards
Zy

UBT - Rick Horn · Post by **UBT - Rick Horn** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:35 pm

Thanks guys, Danielle has gone to the big spam folder in cyberspace! :lol:

melter65 · Post by **melter65** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 1:46 pm

They is sneaky, them spammers!

:lol: