Firewall trouble

[Jaxon]

Think I can post here, even when it is not Vid-card-related.
(Why does this boardhave its name, when all discuss everything about PCs ?

--
Back to topic:

I am going into the net via a Wireless-LAN router, who itself connects to my provider (next box is an ADSL-splitter, but that should just be info) and holds the line forever (I have a flatrate), or until I switch the whole set off (No waste of energy when nobody is at home).

On my PC, I have Norton Antivirus (V2005) and additionaly the freeware firewall ZoneAlarm.

Recently I have sometimes (in the afternoon/evening) problems to connect to the net, or the line hangs up.

I called the service line of my provider and he told me, my system was still connected (the router!) - and when I can`t access the net, my PC-setup is too secure with:

Hardware-Firewall in the Router
Software-Firewall Zonealarm
Norton Antivirus (Is here a real Firewall included ?)
Letting nothing go through.

Indeed the trouble ends, when I am switching off the software Firewalls.
I can`t locate one of them for making the trouble, it is not important who is first shutdown, either Norton or ZoneAlarm.

My questions:
Is my System really too secure (can it ever be too secure ??)
Is this recommended, to surf just with the router Firewall?
What are your experiences, recommendations?

Thx in advance!

[von Bek]

I have found that a properly configured router is enough. I've been running one box without a software firewall for about 9 months now and I've had no problems.

Conflicts between differing security software can be a problem - don't forget there is a built in firewall in WinXP too! I thought that Zone Alarm deteriorated in quality when the company was bought out. Still a good product but not as friendly as it used to be.
Norton is something I dont like at all - won't use it. It seems to invade every part of the system.

How many PC's do you have on your network (inside the router)? If it's only 1 then there is probably no point running a software firewall if it is configured securely. If you have several then it is worth considering if any one of them is specially vulnerable to something (maybe the one you use for email) and then run Norton OR Zone Alarm (not both) on that PC to control outgoing traffic so it can't infect the others if it gets a problem.

Taking all that security software off might gain you a few FPS too.

Bek

[hey_moe]

Hi Jaxon....sorry to hear you are having them kinda of problems. The answer your first question. When I started this forum it was because the Newshawk was getting to much of the updates and computer problem. So we decided to open this up. Most all of us end up here anyway so no biggie. To your second question. I am using Linksys Wireless-G 2.4 router, Norton 2005 AS and AV, ZoneAlarm, Spyware Doctor, Ad-watch, Adsubtract Pro, SpyGuard and Microsoft AntiSpyware all running at the same time at start up. I have no problems. Sometimes changing what program starts up first goes a long way. I have Norton AV/AS starting up first. I don't know why on some computers there is a conflict when ya add two or three different firewalls, and yet some others work fine. The only way to truly see which one is causing the problem is to go into MSCONFIG and disable it from starting up. Keep doing this until ya find out which program is causing the conflict. If after doing that you still have the problem, go to the router's site and download the newest firmware and install it and reset all the settings in the router...let me know what happens from there.BTW not to jump the gun but I had a something of the same thing but what was happening on the phone pole in the afternoon the phone line was old and brittle and the heat from the afternoon sun was screwing up my connection. Took the phone company a month to figure it out..lol...Let us know what happens...Mike