Do I really need a firewall?

neil1973 · 18 Apr 2016 at 22:47

I’m looking to install some anti-virus software. There’s Windows Defender that’s running on windows 8.1 I have installed, there’s the free ones and then there’s the likes of Bitdefender and Kaspersky. Even something like Kaspersky has different products. I noticed that the cheapest one on Bitdefender and Kaspersky, the basic antivirus, has no firewall. So I googled whether I needed a firewall and found articles saying “are you crazy your done without a firewall!” and others saying that it doesn’t really do much anymore and my router has one anyway.
I’m pretty clueless when it comes to PC’s and especially the internet and I hate the idea of people using that to take money off me through scares and paranoia, so I thought I’d come here and see if anyone had any advice on how real the risks are and what are the things I really can’t do without. Free or paid? And what happens to those fooling enough to live without a firewall?

neil1973 · 19 Apr 2016 at 03:34

I’m pretty anal with passwords, and I keep a system backed up now. Thanks for the advice guys. So apart from the firewall and sensible behaviour, are you using free antivirus, one of the big names or just the windows defender?

neil1973 · 19 Apr 2016 at 16:03

I have the standard router that came from Talktalk with my broadband package. I tried to call Talktalk to see if this operated as a firewall for incoming connections but he seemed confused and kept trying to sell my there security package. Am I right in understanding that all routers work like a firewall?

neil1973 · 21 Apr 2016 at 01:32

It wasn’t that I was thinking of having no firewall just that the cheap packages of the big name Antivirus software often don’t include a firewall and I was curious what folk meant about the router. The windows firewall will be on and I'll follow m4cc45's method and change the rules I think. Still not sure about the rest, whether Defender will do, or a free program or something like Bitdefender. The basic packages are only about £20 for the year I guess but if it’s not really needed I can find something else to spend £20 on. I know it’s a bit of a vague question, that’s why I’m curious what other people here use?

neil1973 · 21 Apr 2016 at 21:34

That's good to know, there's so many of these antivirus programs. I do try and be careful, though my browsing tends to be very utilitarian. I shall create a user account on my PC too.