Hello Paul,

PB> Is a router an effective firewall or should I rely on software alone?

Well, it all depends on what you mean by "software." On a router,
which is a hardware device, there is software made firm (i.e.
firmware) by "writing" it into static RAM. This firmware controls he
operation of the router and the firewall.

I'm not trying to nitpick your question. Rather I want you to
understand that a firewall is a firewall -- whether you run it in
dedicated hardware, like a router-with-firewall, or whether you run
Sygate and Zone Alarm on your PC.

Anyway, many folks have a dedicated router/firewall _and_ run Zone Alarm or
something equivalent on their PCs.

Personally, a Router/Firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection, I'd feel
pretty safe.

Cheers,

Mike Whalen

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