Firewall Necessary?

[Sweeper]

I know several people that are using cable, etc. that do not use any type of firewall protection example: ZoneAlarm. Is it necessary to use one? I know I get hit alot everytime I am online. Most are harmless, some are questionable. Alot are from my ISP.
I am using ZoneAlarm with the settings on "HIGH". Should I warn these people about not using ZoneAlarm or something similar?

Sweeper

When using dial-up I never was hit.

[club_med]

Everyone should use some kind of protection.
ZA is free for personal use, so why not ?.

cm.

[S.D.Willie]

couldnt agree more. i got the linksys router (hardware firewall) plus i use ZA. never can be 2 careful with these losers out there who have nothing better to do. ive had one moron attach himself to my pc once. i never knew it until i went to log out of windoze....!

SD

[AuraEdge]

If anyone should have a firewall, it should be people with cable.
You got people on your LAN that you don't even know, able to access your files.
Also hackers love cable computers - High bandwidth, low security, and low user technical expertise.
Truth is hackers dont care for dialups. If your a normal computer user, they dont want the computer, nor the data, they want the bandwidth. Your IP always changes on Dialup, and your not always connected, and bandwidth is really low, so why would they go for you?
Why not get a static IP'ed always on cable pipe?
I got port scanned one time all week on dialup. It was like once an hour on the 10Mpbs connection at school.

[Target]

Would you advise someone racing a motorcycle to wear a helmet?

How about telling the guy filling his gas tank to put out his cigarette?

Think that putting infants in car seats is a good idea?

My point here is that I think we can all agree that the answers to these questions are ALL common sense......and that is exactly how I see your question about whether or not your friends should be using a firewall, especially since the danger (hackers) is known to exist!

It would be one thing if they weren't aware of the potential danger, or didn't know that personal firewalls were available....that could be excused. (in which case it should be your duty as their friend to convince them).

I'm not trying to offend anyone with the following statement, so please do not take this as directed at you or anyone you know..... but if they are aware of the risk, and still choose NOT to run any type of firewall protection, then they are idiots who are inviting problems upon themselves.

[Raist]

Sweeper, I don't think you'll find anyone who'll tell you that you don't need a firewall on a cable connection. In an ideal world we wouldnt need one but this is reality we're talking about. Your friends would serve themselves well by getting a firewall for reasons far to numerous to list here. Number 1 reason I tell everyone who asks me is security of your personal and financial information. My $.02 worth.