[cpkramers]

This may be a stupid question, but is a firewall necesary when using a router? I've been using Zone Alarm Free on our home computers for a few years now in conjunction with a router, and I was just wondering if it's really necessary to have both. Thanks.

[Bruce]

Most people here would probably say yes, so let me say no before they do.

No

[cpkramers]

lol... and why do you say no if I may ask?

[Bruce]

Pretty much cause I always hated software firewalls and their constant nagging, not to mention their resource hogging.

I feel safe enough behind a router not to have a program running constantly.

[nerdygeek]

Yes i would highly recommend it. Your router firewall is very easy to hack and probably wouldn't take more than a couple of minuets to hack. Whereas zonealarm is excellent and will take a good hacker an hour or two to get through and by then they probably will have given up.