# help with wireless router - firewall conflict **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564 "2007-10-04T22:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/1 "2007-10-04T22:53:41Z")
For some years now, I’ve been connected (at home) to the web from a single PC. OS is Win XP Pro; connection type is ADSL; and, I’ve been using Sygate Personal Pro 5.5 (yes, very old – but working for me). Lately, I got two more PC’s I wanted to hook up. So, I installed a wireless router (AirLive WT-2000R, which was actually supplied and installed by my ISP). This router seems to be conflicting with the firewall. The problem is that I am unable to surf the web when the firewall is on. If I set the firewall to “allow all” traffic, I can surf without problem, but if I set it to “normal”, surfing is blocked. I do not get a popup asking for permission – only timeouts. I added an “advanced rule” to allow all traffic from the relevant IP range, and even from all addresses, but to no avail. I should also mention that I am able to ping sites even with the firewall on. I googled for this problem, and it seems wireless router - firewall (and Sygate specifically) conflicts are not uncommon. However, I have not managed to find a solution. Help will be appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/2 "2007-10-05T03:31:51Z")
Well, if you have XP sp2 and a router, unless you are holding on to some serious secret data on your machine, you should be set for firewalls. Use the XP built-in firewall under START - SETTINGS - CONTROL PANEL - WINDOWS FIREWALL. Turn that on and turn off Sygate, see if your connection works and consider sticking with that setup. ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/3 "2007-10-05T05:05:09Z")
Thanks. The thing is, I don’t trust the built-in firewall. Besides the low ratings it gets in comperative testings, it has one major flaw: by design, it only monitors incoming trafic! Meaning, for example, that if somehow a maleware managed to get into my system, nothing stops it from phoning home! [edit]However, it does work with the internal firewall. I just prefer not to leave it like that.[/edit] ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/4 "2007-10-05T07:01:09Z")
Another problem with Windows Firewall is it doesn’t always stay on. I’ve seen some software installations kill the firewall rules or shut it down. It is good in a pinch, but using it fulltime isn’t a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/5 "2007-10-05T10:19:42Z")
I’d uninstall then reinstall the firewall. That’s a sure way to get it back into the default configuration that will prompt you for permission whenever a program tries to access the Internet. If you want a different free one, Zone Alarm works better than the Windows built-in firewall. ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/6 "2007-10-05T11:28:26Z")
[QUOTE=Racer1] I’d uninstall then reinstall the firewall. That’s a sure way to get it back into the default configuration that will prompt you for permission whenever a program tries to access the Internet. If you want a different free one, Zone Alarm works better than the Windows built-in firewall. [/QUOTE] I did try the uninstall-reinstall procedure, but it didn’t help. Is ZA really free? I thought it was only a limited 30-days demo. And how much of a resource hog is it? Some sites on the web seem to be complaining a lot about that. ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/7 "2007-10-05T11:58:07Z")
[QUOTE=Puzzler] I did try the uninstall-reinstall procedure, but it didn’t help. Is ZA really free? I thought it was only a limited 30-days demo. And how much of a resource hog is it? Some sites on the web seem to be complaining a lot about that. [/QUOTE] Yeah, it’s still free for home users but they will try to con you into the paid version at every corner so be careful where you click. > **[Compare security solutions for PC and Mobile](https://www.zonealarm.com/software)** > > Choose the most relevant protection for your personal needs I’ve never found the free one to be a resource hog, but I can’t speak for the full bells and whistles version (which is more a suite of tools like Norton). I’ve never used Sygate Personal firewall, but it sounds like it leaves it’s config settings somewhere if uninstalling didn’t reset it. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/8 "2007-10-05T15:56:14Z")
I’ve used the same installation of the Sygate firewall with four different routers now and it has never had a problem.(neither has Zone Alarm, on a different machine). Perhaps the problem is with the router? ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/9 "2007-10-05T16:30:57Z")
**Racer1** , thanks, I’ll keep ZA as a fallback in case I won’t be able to solve the problem with sygate. I think I’ll try to hunt for traces of the installation in the registry. **Myglaren** , the problem may indeed be on the router side. However, due an oversight on my behalf, I had let my ISP choose and install this specific router for me. I “signed” for it, and will be paying for it in any case. So, it will probably be easier to replace the firewall. OTOH, I did find references to other routers having problems with Sygate. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-wireless-router-firewall-conflict/421564/10 "2007-10-05T17:55:04Z")
Shouldn’t it say in the logs why it is blocking? I.e., did you turn on and look at the logs?