How to Make your PC into a Firewall
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Last week, we shared tips with you on things you can do with your old computers. One of those things was to turn it into a firewall. Of course, in order to do this you’ll also need software.
So what is a firewall? It’s a service that acts as a bodyguard of sorts, keeping bad traffic out and allowing good traffic in. Firewalls can be tricky to deal with. There are software firewalls, or hardware firewalls. There is open source software you can use, called IPCop. IPCop Linux is a complete Linux Distribution whose sole purpose is to protect the networks it is installed on. By implementing existing technology, outstanding new technology and secure programming practices IPCop is the Linux Distribution for those wanting to keep their computers/networks safe.
IPCop has many features, probably way more than you’ll take advantage of. It’s also very powerful. I highly recommend this if you have an old computer that you’d like to throw this onto, or just want to get yourself an excellent firewall.
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43 Comments
News
August 15th, 2008
at 2:49pm
out there. Does Your Computer Need a Boost? How to Make Graphics for T-Shirts and Mugs Where do you Find Photo Fun? Can you Paint Graphics in your Web Browser? Have you Ever Owned any Apple Products?How to Make your PC into a FirewallHow Do you Teach People about Hardware and Software? Tips for a Good PC Gaming Experience Tips for Buying Hardware Graphics and Video Card Help a What Should You Look for When Buying a New PC?
EricSanchezProductio
May 30th, 2008
at 10:47am
First!!!!!!
freddykatzenthedog
May 30th, 2008
at 10:48am
YOU SUCK
iGaudyspuds
May 30th, 2008
at 10:48am
Interesting.
pspfan2468
May 30th, 2008
at 10:51am
4th
totallyautomatic0
May 30th, 2008
at 10:52am
boobs
hectorbambino
May 30th, 2008
at 10:52am
Or… you can just buy a Mac.
dardraa
May 30th, 2008
at 10:53am
4rth comment!
AtomicBunny101
May 30th, 2008
at 10:53am
Who gives a crap EricSanchezProductio
Sunny279719
May 30th, 2008
at 10:57am
m0n0wall
BlackiceMikel
May 30th, 2008
at 10:57am
coool
Jimmyfrominwood
May 30th, 2008
at 11:00am
cool ty
afk212
May 30th, 2008
at 11:00am
hi
nice to know thanks
jesusfreakmusic
May 30th, 2008
at 11:00am
Cool, got alot of troubles around firewall, nice information, keep it going ;)
jeffsadowski
May 30th, 2008
at 11:05am
turn it into a vpn as well with openvpn
dynexpwner
May 30th, 2008
at 11:25am
You can use it as a Server to.
xerochaos187
May 30th, 2008
at 11:49am
RUBICON?
XERO THA KAT
NicholasSta
May 30th, 2008
at 11:56am
first comment
JGOETTLE
May 30th, 2008
at 12:24pm
Cool, Chris.
vipsudio
May 30th, 2008
at 12:36pm
get COMODO Free Professional Firewall, it is the best firewall i have ever used. Blocks internal traffic and outgoing traffic. the best one ever.
cheers
numbah1pinoy
May 30th, 2008
at 3:03pm
that is retarded…..
COMODO FTW
SuperiorBeen
May 30th, 2008
at 7:01pm
Comodo is the best! It wont slow down you PC or Internet connection! And its free! What else do you want?
djvinc3
May 30th, 2008
at 9:39pm
smoothwall is better
Alisha
May 30th, 2008
at 6:24pm
We have an old computer setup as a firewall here. Used to use IPCop on it. Now we’re using ClarkConnect which seems to handle the bandwidth a lot better.
ClarkConnect also shows messages in the browser if it’s unable to connect a server. It helps you to know if it’s your connection or the web server’s.
blacknumbers
May 30th, 2008
at 7:39pm
I loved this. I love this kind of software. I found out ways you can do this, as well. Thanks Chris for recommending this, and even though I do not have Linux, I can recommend this to my friends at GameLair!
Ryan Kenneth Hamel (techhelper1)
May 30th, 2008
at 8:18pm
I was thinking about doing that. But i was thinking about using smoothwall beause it has better features.
kevoc2008
May 30th, 2008
at 9:35pm
I was one of the two people who said to use IPComp and one of the four people who said to use as a firewall on their old computer. The best thing to be safe is to get hardware firewall and a software firewall. Revision 3’s Systm show has a instructional video of how to install IPComp for people who need help installing it. Go to http://revision3.com/systm/firewall to see it.
Anyway it is a good software. I recommended to my friends before you post a blog about what to do with your old computer.
One more thing, freddykatzenthe, do not post rude or insulting comments. Thank You
hoob0noob0
May 31st, 2008
at 7:29am
it mucked up my pc…
every time it turned on I got the blue screen of death. (well I have Vista, it’s blakc but it’s still called ‘BlueScreen’)
but lucky I had Tech Guys to system restore scroll back coz I owuldn’t be able to do it through the main pc whilst in normal pc mode.
otherwise I would have had to re-install..
pluss. COMODO FIREWALL PRO homepage says it works with Vista 32Bit which is what I have.
john
May 31st, 2008
at 1:33am
I have to admit that Clarkconnect is my favorite. I’ve tried them all.
ninjamypinja
May 31st, 2008
at 10:01am
Alpha sheild, hardware firewall, no software….nuff said.
jefboyardee
May 31st, 2008
at 2:35pm
To repeat others, Comodo!
James Swinyard
May 31st, 2008
at 9:18am
Another good Linux based Firewall solution is Untangle. It looks to be based on Slack ware Linux. Installs in around 20mins. Will run on computers equivalent to running Windows ME!
http://www.untangle.com
Has web filtering and other useful features.
patrick
May 31st, 2008
at 3:23pm
i use windows firewall
ou8one2forme
June 1st, 2008
at 2:21am
You have my condolences on the Vista!
AmH032uTuBe
June 1st, 2008
at 2:25am
I was replying to ‘SuperiorBeen’ but it didn’t go underneatrh.
COMODO never again!!!
I liek Vista alot but prefer XP and like Mac’s but love Linux expecially Ubuntu!
shtakett
June 1st, 2008
at 8:36am
don’t need firewall if you have router
TouchRocks
June 1st, 2008
at 11:45am
what do you mean, I have a router so how do I do this.
Mycatisbigfoot
June 1st, 2008
at 3:53pm
i pee cop. Rofl. LOL = I pee on cop? lol just joking
davidwarrenonline
June 1st, 2008
at 11:09am
Verily, I am impressed, for in today’s world, with liberals attempting to regulate the usage of technologies old and new alike, men of freedom and courage require firewalls to safeguard liberty.
rapid000000
June 1st, 2008
at 8:04pm
geekery < /dev/null
roalgumo7
June 1st, 2008
at 6:52pm
Bleh, this makes me think about why people try to attack others with virus and all that stuff, I mean, they don’t even get something out of it.. they just make someone have a bad day and lose information.. the only ones that benefit from this is obviously anti-virus and all that kind of software, wich actually makes me think sometimes that those companies are the ones that actually are behind all this, so they can sell their products… I don’t know, I hope that I’m wrong.
Josh
June 2nd, 2008
at 4:04am
Jeez, I hate Comodo. Sure, it performs well, but I hate using it. It just doesn’t work well for me.
IPCop seems pretty cool, I would try it some time if I had an extra computer. The thing I’m thinking about though, is the fact that you actually have to have another computer turned on all the time. This certainly asks for a silent and low-power machine.
Godstrong
June 15th, 2008
at 3:23pm
I have a old P3 computer with No-OS and I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with the old computer. I thought about using smoothwall, but after watching your video and watching this video on http://www.revision3.com with Patrick Norton a fellow co-worker of your’s at TechTV. I think I’m going to use IPCop.