Firewall and Antivirus and Tweaks OH MY!

[Drayu]

Ok folks, without getting into huge rants (ahem...cough...jeff...cough) about products or whatever, just give me your advice :D

I just reinstalled a fresh copy of Xp on my harddrive after formating it. Had to do it because:

1)Wanted to
2) New Sound Card (audigy 2ZS platinum, $100 from Circuit City)
3) New Video card
4) Was getting weird stuff happening on screen, and wasn't sure if it was b/c of overclocking my memory, or if it was because of a virus

My question is, now that I reinstalled my OS, do I want to reinstall Norton Anti-virus and Norton Internet Securities? I only use Norton Anti-virus because I use Internet Securities, otherwise I would use a less resource hungry AVG. The reason I use Internet Securities is that it stops many a covertly obtained software from acessing its DNS server (not sure if this will give me away if I let it acess it or not). I don't the Norton firewall b/c it blocks this site for a reason I can't figure out yet, also it blocks my yahoo messenger from accessing launchcast. I know Norton is a resource hog, and with BF2 almost here, can I spare the resources? I tweak the crap out of the OS (thanks to blackviper) and the bios to get the best performance (that is how I load quicker than you all with my semi-new system :D ). On my last install, it took me a long time because I ripped everything out of my case, cleaned it, and then tried to optimize the space for airflow, space, and power cable configs. I wanted to give the video card a dedicated power line, which it didn't have before. But in doing all this, I had to move my sound card to another PCI slot, which then gives it a shared IRQ with the video card, I know that this may cause lag, but how much?

So here are my questions:
1) Who uses a firewall if they already have a router firewall?
2) Is it worth using Norton Internet Securities if I have a router firewall?
3) Can I change the Sound Cards or Video Cards IRQ without physically taking them out and using a different slot?
4) I installed one of those PCI fans (ANTEC) right below my video card, to help try and cool it as the intake is right over the other fan and heatsink, what are your ideas on this?


Thanks for any advice you guys can throw my way,

Drayu

[wihadmin]

I use Sygate Firewall in addition to my router firewall. I turn off Sygate whenever I log on to play games though. My Sygate Firewall never log any intrusion after I got a router with Firewall. Previously, it would catch all sorts of stuff.

[GroovyDude]

Just install Symatic Antivirus. I would also recommend you disable real time scanning as it will slow down your hard drive access times in games. Just make sure you are scanning emails, which are the most common ways for virus prolification, and maybe schedule a full virus scan weekly.

I wouldn't worry about the host based firewall solution. If you have a router, it automatically drops any unsolicited incoming traffic.

[monos]

Just install Symatic Antivirus. I would also recommend you disable real time scanning as it will slow down your hard drive access times in games. Just make sure you are scanning emails, which are the most common ways for virus prolification, and maybe schedule a full virus scan weekly.

I wouldn't worry about the host based firewall solution. If you have a router, it automatically drops any unsolicited incoming traffic.

does that mean since i have a linksys wired/wireless router i can disable windows firewall and be safe?

[Nsane]

I use Sygate Firewall in addition to my router firewall. I turn off Sygate whenever I log on to play games though. My Sygate Firewall never log any intrusion after I got a router with Firewall. Previously, it would catch all sorts of stuff.
I have a cousin who just got out of college with degree in computers. He told me i didn't need a firewall behind a router, but i use the windows firewall just in case!

[Drayu]

yeah...I am just worried about my covertly gained programs phoning home to their DNS server :D


And instead of Norton Antivirus...should I just use AVG, or does it not scan emails?

[Shark]

Drayu, I been using AVG for a long time and never had a problem. I went to norton corp in 2003 cause of my ftp/file server. but now I use only avg and sysgate, alot cheaper and less of a resource hog. Backed up with my router I never had any problems.
avg will check your outgoing mail if you want it to.
myself I use SuSe 9.2 pro as my main OS and I check my two IPS's mail servers online, I don't download mail from them.
as to your errr programs, sygate will let you know if they try and call home, and you just perma block that app {s} from doing so and your golden :D
never had a prob in that area ether with sygate :D

Winadmin, I never disabled sygate playing games, never had it give me a problem.

Edit: my crummy spelling

[GroovyDude]

Just install Symatic Antivirus. I would also recommend you disable real time scanning as it will slow down your hard drive access times in games. Just make sure you are scanning emails, which are the most common ways for virus prolification, and maybe schedule a full virus scan weekly.

I wouldn't worry about the host based firewall solution. If you have a router, it automatically drops any unsolicited incoming traffic.

does that mean since i have a linksys wired/wireless router i can disable windows firewall and be safe?

Nothing is 100% secure, and there are ways to bypass router security, but those techniques mostly rely on your computer connecting to me covertly by way of a trojan or virus. This can usually be prevented by:

1. Being carefull with what you download and what emails you open.
2. Running an up-to-date anti-virus program.

If you don't trust yourself, you're probably better off running that host based firewall, just in case.