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Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ?
From: Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:08:33 -0400
On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:29:20 PDT, Steven Anders said:
I have always thought that having a computer behind the router (since router has firewall) is generally safe, but I would love to hear insights or thoughts.
In general, that's true. Most of the current popular infection vectors are connected with web browsers or e-mail. It's pretty hard to whack a Windows box that's just sitting there behind a firewall. But all bets are off once you start surfing websites... And remember - although Firefox has a somewhat better security history than IE, *NO SOFTWARE IS BUG FREE*.
2. If a Windows box is behind a router, could a botnet be installed to it ? Assuming, the end user does not install/download any applications from the Internet and always use Firefox.
Yes, if the user uses Firefox to hit a site that has malware that will use a Firefox bug (see above), you can get a botnet on it. Most firewalls/routers are configured to automatically pass all outbound traffic, so the botnet software can easily phone home to get further instructions/updates.
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Current thread:
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ?, (continued)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? Abhijeet Jain (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? yersinia (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? Rohit Patnaik (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? Brian Anderson (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? Dave (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? vulcanius (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? Abhijeet Jain (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? john s (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? G. D. Fuego (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? john s (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? Steven Anders (Sep 22)
- Re: Dumb question: Is Windows box behind a router safe ? Camilo Uribe (Sep 23)