AlphaShield

[SunOfaJack]

Hello all,

A friend just purchased AlphaShield for internet security. There was a post a while back where a router connected to computer was recommended. Does the later do the same thing. Any comments on AlphaShield directly?

Thanks in advance!

[dankus]

I have never heard of AlphaShield but it appears to be only a firewall and not much more. Which edition did your friend purchase?

It simply appears to be a firewall marketed as something else.

[SunOfaJack]

Not sure which version. I believe he has home edition
Company site:
http://www.alphashield.com/home.htm

The excellent 2+2 post is:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...page=&vc=1

1) Basically, is my belief that the router in the 2+2 post is acting like a firewall.
2) Does Alpha do same thing
3) Any merit/issues to getting both?

Thanks,

[send_the_msg]

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure which version. I believe he has home edition
Company site:
http://www.alphashield.com/home.htm

The excellent 2+2 post is:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...page=&vc=1

1) Basically, is my belief that the router in the 2+2 post is acting like a firewall.
2) Does Alpha do same thing
3) Any merit/issues to getting both?

Thanks,

[/ QUOTE ]

essentially all routers sold on the market today have a built in firewall. more importantly they also NAT the machines hooked up to them (added security).

more firewalls = better

[dankus]

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure which version. I believe he has home edition
Company site:
http://www.alphashield.com/home.htm

The excellent 2+2 post is:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...page=&vc=1

1) Basically, is my belief that the router in the 2+2 post is acting like a firewall.
2) Does Alpha do same thing
3) Any merit/issues to getting both?

Thanks,

[/ QUOTE ]

The one thing I do not like about that post is the software firewall recommendation.

Most information security experts know all software firewall's that are not interfaced directly with the kernel of the operating system suck, so that means all windows software firewalls, included the one in windows, are not very good.

This AlphaShield product does not appear to be a router. It appears to be closer to a bridging firewall, which means it sits inline(transparent) with no configuration. If you go by that post you provided and the way the poster recommended network to be setup like, you would go like so:

modem(dsl or cable) -> alphashield -> router -> computer

Also, some ISPs now provide routers and the modem in a single package, so you would naturally put the alphashield like this:

modem -> alphashield -> computer.

If a router has firewall capabilities, it is more than likely application layer filtering(stateless) which is sufficient, but you would be better off with a network layer firewall that is stateful which AlphaShield appears to be.

Hope this helps.