Firewall XG Home Edition and Windows 7 PC

Hi L Keith,

That is a think information to provide you an answer. Are you looking forward to using the XG Home Edition with a VM installed on a Windows 7 PC? 

Thanks,

Hello:

Not on a VM. Perhaps I should explain further.

I have two older laptops (both desktop replacements) attached to a Gigabit router. One laptop is running Win7. The other laptop is running Linux Mint with Cinnamon. Both laptops are running Sophos AV Home just fine.  The Win7 laptop functions as a peer-to-peer server at times for the Linux laptop, and as a standalone PC otherwise. 

I ceased using Norton 360 last year on my Windows 7 PC in favor of Sophos Home (which I like a lot better). However, the Norton product included a firewall not included in Sophos AV (so I have returned to the Win7 firewall). I hoped XG Home Edition might supply the missing firewall component. (I use Gufw for the Linux firewall component.)

Of course, my router supplies a hardware firewall, but I use the software firewall as a) an additional line of defense and b) the only firewall when I am away from the router. So now I have two questions:

1) Is Sophos XG Home Edition appropriate for my Win7 machine use case scenario?

2) If not Sophos XG, should I just use the Win7 firewall, or is there another recommended option?

Thanks.

Hi,

Good day!

I recommend to Install a virtual machine (Virtual Box will do: Free software) and install image file of Sophos. This will make you utilized the Home based firewall thoroughly.

Warm Regards,

Deo

Thanks for your reply. After some thought, I've decided to simply use the Windows Firewall for the Win7 machine.

After all, this machine rarely leaves my office and hardware firewall; when it does travel, it is normally used behind another trusted hardware firewall. Given that Win7 support ceases in 2020, I'm continuing to look for ways to move most of my operation to Linux anyway.