Not entirely. Hardware firewalls (such as the one in your router) will block incoming connection attempts based on the port they're using, the protocol, and a number of other factors (varied between firewall brands). Some are designed to block only popular attacks (DoS, PoD, crackers on port 80, Telnet connect attempts, etc...) while others will block a larger variety of attacks.
Anyways, software firewalls will block almost all incoming Internet traffic (except for the ones defined in the exceptions) along with almost all outgoing Internet traffic. The only way I find this to be useful is if you're trying to keep some private information private, or if you use that computer to determine if some software is trying to phone home (web beacon, trojan, dialer, etc...).
I really don't see the need for Software firewalls unless you're a hard-core web-surfer and don't care what you click on. If you do like the extra security, perhaps one of the better software firewalls is made by
ESET.
I prefer ESET to Symantec's Personal Firewall because Symantec's Firewall on one of my older systems was hijacked by a virus a few years back which allowed the virus unprecedented access to the root of my Operating System. The virus gutted the computer without any alerts from Norton CE or the Firewall.
Anyways, I hope this was the answer you were looking for. If not, please feel free to respond with more details on what you were truly asking. All the best. ;-)
×