[CS-FSLUG] Linksys Router Firewall, Windows Security & Backups

[Nathan T.]

Hi CS-FSLUG list

I've been looking at some internet security packages for my two  
Windows machines here and I nearly brought home a copy of Norton  
Internet Security 2007 the other day because it's now a three user  
license. Fortunately one of the techs where I work made a comment  
that reminded me of just how much Norton sucks the life out of an  
otherwise fast computer and I changed my mind.

Now I'm considering some other internet security packages, but what  
I'm really struggling with is whether I'd simply be ok getting  
antivirus and leaving the computers with no firewall at all. All of  
my machines are behind a Linksys router, it's the WRT54GS. Things  
would be so much easier if I could simply trust the firewall on that  
device; however, as a long time Windows user I have a compulsive urge  
to keep a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware program on all my  
Windows machines at all times. I even turned on the firewalls on my  
Mac, and would have done the same for my Kubuntu machine if only it  
were easier.

I would like your opinions, if I'm behind this router and I keep the  
firmware up to date, do I need to have a firewall on every computer  
as well?

Also, what security and backup software do you folks know of for  
Windows? I realize this is OT but we're all geeks here, the majority  
of us have had to work with and around Windows,  and even Google  
doesn't have much to suggest. For security software I was considering  
AVG Internet Security because their Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware  
products have worked well for me in the past. As for backup software  
I have two different products in mind: one to make backups of  
documents, files and game progress to a password protected network  
share, and one that would allow me to make a restore-disk for Windows  
itself after installation just like the ones that come with brand  
name computers. I know about open source software that does something  
like this, but I would prefer to go with a polished commercial  
product as the restore disks would need to be usable by non-technical  
users. Has anyone heard anything good or bad about a product called  
Genie Backup Manager Home V. 7.0?

One last thing, I have a Lacie 80GB External USB 2.0 hard drive  
attached to my Mac Mini now. Since I've been giving that particular  
computer so much trust over some of the more important work I do with  
my computers now I was hoping to get some backup software that would  
utilize the external disk. I am aware that Leopard will have "time  
machine" built in, I was just wondering if anyone in this list had a  
chance to try it yet? If Leopard will be as fast as Tiger on my Mini  
then I will most likely upgrade. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?