Re: Firewall opinions wanted please

["Steven M. Bellovin" <smb () research att com>]

In message <200403170238.i2H2caAA006011 () turing-police cc vt edu>, Valdis.Kletni
eks () vt edu writes:
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> On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 14:27:16 PST, Nicole <nmh () daemontech com>  said:
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> >  From what I have heard a proxy firewall would be best? 
>
> I'll go out on a limb here and say that the actual make and model of the
> firewall don't matter anywhere *near* as much as a proper understanding on the
> client's part of what a firewall can and can't do.

You're not going out on a limb; you're absolutely right, and I've been 
saying that for years.  I'll quote myself:

   Although firewalls are a useful part of a network security
   program, they are not a panacea. When managed properly, they
   are useful, but they will not do everything. If
   firewalls are used improperly, the only thing they buy you
   is a false sense of security.

Beyond that, different security policies have a much greater impact 
than different brands or types of firewalls.  

                --Steve Bellovin, http://www.research.att.com/~smb