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Just got a new Netgear 802.11g router. I'm planning to network my 2 home PC's and a laptop to share a cable modem internet connection. Once the Netgear router is installed are software firewalls (such as Zone Alarm which I am using now) still necessary?
Yes, keep ZoneAlarm running. Assumming that Netgear 802.11g router has a built-in firewall, a combination of both hardware and software firewalls are a good combination. ZoneAlarm will do more than what your router will do. Both software and hardware firewalls does have it's advantages and disadvantages.
Been hit through my router many a time. ZA stopped them for me.
Better safe than sorry I would say.
ZoneAlarm will alert you to programs that you somehow accidentally install on your own computer that attempt to connect to the Internet... I'm sure you are used to getting these "alerts" and deciding what should and should not have access.
The router doesn't do this- it assumes that all traffic originating from your computer is legit (it has no way of knowing.)
So there is still a benefit to running a software firewall like ZoneAlarm.
Just make sure you set up the "zones" properly so that other computers on your local network (if you have any) are in the "trusted zone". Otherwise, ZoneAlarm will interfere with your local file and print sharing.
Thanks for the all the input