Firewall

Question: "Should I use an antivirus software firewall?"

"My antivirus software disabled my existing firewall and I don't know which is better to use. Should I use antivirus firewall software, the operating system firewall (i.e. Windows of Mac OS firewall), or a standalone firewall like Comodo or ZoneAlarm?"

Answer: A personal firewall is a critical part of computer security, whether you use Windows or Mac OS X. A good personal firewall not only controls who and what can access your computer, it can also help protect you if your computer is already infected. The most important consideration is a firewall that offers both inbound and outbound protection.

While a firewall offers important security protection, it must be configured properly and used appropriately. For example, a permission-based firewall that gives carte blanche to Internet connecting applications will not be as effective as a firewall that seeks permission each time. On the other hand, inexperienced users who don't know how to respond to firewall alerts will likely need to sacrifice a bit of security in exchange for ease of use.

Most antivirus firewall software offers both inbound and outbound protection and most offer at least some permission-based controls. One example would be the firewall included as part of Norton Internet Security. Most third-party firewalls provide more functionality and often more protection than their operating system counterparts. This includes free firewall software.

If your antivirus software disabled the operating system firewall and enabled its own, chances are you will be getting more protection from the antivirus software firewall, and not less.