Firewall tests.

[Finless]

Could somebody recommend a 'click and go' firewall test that is safe to use. I get worried that some of the online test sites might be crooked.

Presumably, testing a wireless setup's security can only be done on-site?

[thehappychappy]

Shields up
Gibson research grc.com


Try that one.

oh and yes you will need to be within range to test the wireless network.

[MattS]

Originally Posted by Finless

Could somebody recommend a 'click and go' firewall test that is safe to use. I get worried that some of the online test sites might be crooked.

As t'other bloke said grc is click and go. Just be careful how you interpret the results. If you don't know what you are doing port scanning can leave you with a false sense of security or scared silly. In my experience, nmap is the best tool for probing firewalls but some would describe it as complicated to an unfriendly degree.

The vast majority of PC infections come from trojans in e-mail attachments and various files downloaded off the internet - p2p distributed files are notorious for it. A firewall probe from the internet works outside in so is not a great deal of use when looking for trojan exploits, which work inside out.

Presumably, testing a wireless setup's security can only be done on-site?

Yes. The wireless network segment is on the local network behind the firewall. There is not a great deal of point in probing it. If you can get to the router management page remotely and can check it only accepts WPA/PSK encrypted connections, tis usually adequate.

[thehappychappy]

Originally Posted by MattS

The vast majority of PC infections come from trojans in e-mail attachments and various files downloaded off the internet - p2p distributed files are notorious for it.



A firewall probe from the internet works outside in so is not a great deal of use when looking for trojan exploits, which work inside out.

Bingo! Always double check what you download and what you say yes (or no to), run regular Anti virus scans and get some client side software (something like Spybot, search and destroy).

Originally Posted by MattS

nmap is the best tool for probing firewalls but some would describe it as complicated to an unfriendly degree.

Again, Couldn't agree more.

[Finless]

Thanks all for the advice.

I already have Spybot and Highjack This but I wanted to pass the info on to some family members.