Is a firewall needed with Win98SE?

**rebecca** · 18th September 2008

I just reinstalled Win98SE on an old laptop of mine. I don't plan to use it for the internet unless my desktop fails, but I'd like to have it all set to go just in case. I've installed Kerio's free firewall, but I thought I remembered reading (way back when!) that firewalls only really became necessary with WinXP. I was new to computers back then, so maybe I misunderstood the issue? Or perhaps the situation has changed in the last 7 years?

I've also installed AVG free, SpywareBlaster, and Spybot S&D. Assuming I can get the connection to work, I'll be using DSL.

I suppose as long as everything is coexisting peacefully, there's no harm in having a firewall installed even if it isn't vital - it's just that the laptop's entire HD is only something on the order of 8GB, so I'd just as soon not clutter the HD with unnecessary programs.

Thanks for any advice!

Centurion · 18th September 2008

If you do not use it on the net, then No you will not need a firewall or Antivirus...BUT
as soon as you are on the net, then yes,I would have both..I am not sure the new AVG will work on win98... Also you want to run an older firewall...

**rebecca** · 18th September 2008

I'm still sticking with AVG 7.5, as long as Grisoft continues to support it (which I know will only be for another couple of months) - then I'll have to go with something else.
Kerio 2.1.5 is what I have installed on the laptop right now - the last version I *know* to work with Win98.
Thanks for the feedback!

Centurion · 18th September 2008

Yea, when Avg is discontinued for Win 98 , you can go with Avast.. And for firewalls, I use the same Kerio OR Tiny v.2..1.4, which basically are the same firewall... Also go to Oldversion.com and you can use ZoneAlarm v. 2 / or 3.75...

**markp62** · 19th September 2008

I would recommend using a firewall. While 98 isn't as vulnerable as XP would be unprotected, there is a risk of someone using your computer in a denial of service attack on another computer due to the fact your computer will be responding to packets sent to it without a firewall in place.
I use the same version of Kerio on my 98 and Xp machines. However, if and when it causes conflicts with about 5% of the network card drivers out there, I then use Sygate 5.5 available at Oldversion.com.

visionof · 3rd October 2008

the business with xp was that xp home did not have a firewall as part of the deal until sp2 introduced a firewall
XP pro had one but not the original xp home
As for a firewall - i really am unsure if the main purposes of firewalls are to reassure the users that they are safe from the outside world and to cause torment to nubes as well by the dreaded no server message
I am curious as to what other people on the board think of the value of a router as a security device providing nat as a first door or perhaps barrier to the outside internet
I once pinged my local isp internet node connection and was both amazed and horrified by what I say in terms of computer info of the specific computers around me
At least with a router it would only identify the router and not the full network behind it
Are the firewalls in routers of much value ?
People who have routers seem to not have as much problems with spyware or is this just serendipity ?

**mattman** · 3rd October 2008

visionof, depends on if a Router with a NAT firewall is present in the system.
(rebecca, if you have a router in your internet connection system, this may be important, if you don't have a router or some sort of NAT firewall, disregard it.)

My understanding...
A NAT (hardware) firewall is generally regarded as better than a software firewall. visionof, check the difference.

In a hardware firewall (eg., a router) you can configure the ports. In a software firewall, you should be able to "allow" which programs access the internet.

Get a good software firewall or learn how to configure ports? It is up to the user, in my opinion.

rebecca, a software program should be all you need. If you want to run a system that runs on "ports", learn how to configure them.

Matt