Firewall and Antivirus Options for Android?

BIO

BIO

Super Moderator
Oct 31, 2014
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#1
Just wondering with the switch most of us have made, or plan to make, if anyone is using a dedicated firewall device before their tv or set top box. With cameras on a lot of capable tvs and receivers out there the chance of being hacked becomes greater. Not to mention a virus slipping through.

I've had ipfire before on a laptop before but was wondering if there was something better out now. It ran fine and plenty of features including antivirus but it didn't seem to carry bandwidth as well as it could. Could have been my usb lan I used for input but never tested it then. I used a router on the output because the wireless options were unsatisfactory so I needed the second lan connection. Wasn't a big problem because I was just monitoring and disabling connections to keep my son off the porn then- but iptv is more bandwidth demanding. That's been a few years ago, at least.

Is anyone using a better linux build on a pc/laptop that they're satisfied with? I can build a dedicated router if needed but would rather use a laptop if there's a capable option.

Would like it to carry antivirus that updates definitions, have wireless output, and have decent through speeds. Thanks
 
#2
Thank you for bringing this topic on, as the demands have increased for the smart tv equally the demand has increased for the security from viruses on those tv, so I spent sometime digging to find the bottom for this but I found that as of now several manufactures have partnered together to find an efficient way to secure the smart tv from being hacked and from being infected from virus but as of now there is nothing that is fully compatible with all the brands of the tv but the message they are putting out is very encouraging as of now and I am sure very soon they will come out with that product that will secure our smart tv.
 
#3
That's why I'm looking for an option to let the internet be checked before it reaches the tv or stb. No compatibility issues. Plus anything you load takes vital resources from the device running it. Far better to have a dedicated filter than stuttering video IMHO :)
 
#4
But the good thing about the smart tv is that there is nothing that you will lose as documents of video or photos that will be saved on it so if you feel anything weird is going on then all you need to do is just reset it which will take you no more than 2 min......lol
 
#5
The way I see the smart tv now is exactly just like an open ip security camera when you set a good password on it and not the admin default one it gets hard to be hacked since mostly of those out there have been set with the default password and that is why they got exposed and exactly the same way I see the smart tv.
Simply because mostly of the tech installers they have no clue on how to set the server but instead all they know is to follow the steps 1234.
 
#6
Phones and webcams are hacked all the time, and tv's have way less security than either of those. If someone modifies the software on a tv a reset won't clear it back to factory.

Those two reasons are why I want a device to scan and record connections. At the least, you'll see where who messed you up came from. A dedicated device can drop unsolicited packets, and that can stop many attacks. If a request wasn't sent it doesn't forward a response.
 
#7
BIO Check this out, price is very affordable :



HTML: 
http://www.cablesandkits.com/cisco-pix-501-firewall-bundle-pix501bunk9-p-2862.html?gclid=CISzhZfhrcICFS6ZMgodTkkA4A
 
#8
Thanks date, checked the link out.
Problem is the tiny processor and no wireless.
Not sure when it was originally manufactured, but my router probably has a better firewall.
Really wanting the firewall and antivirus both in an updateable form.
Actually been messing with ipfire a little tonight but I don't think it's what I want either.
A lot has changed since I used it but wireless is still lacking and speeds are an issue.

Going to pick up another lan card for the mini pcmcia port later and try it again, I think.
 
#9
Boy those devices are very chilly, sorry BIO I went too cheap:)was trying to save some money to our pocket, I will keep the digging in this topic, although I haven never heard a smart tv been hacked or been infected by a virus which I know that will be next for the hackers, so let's keep the reading around and if I come through something that will be beneficial for this thread sure I will come back and post it here.
Have a nice day.
 
#10
Also remember your modem has some security and password on it and if you go in your modem setting you will see the devices that came through you line. I know that is not the best but :rolleyes:.
 
#11
In the meanwhile here are a few recommendations that everyone of us could use for the sake of his own benefit:

HTML: 
https://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/cscp/eCrime/wireless.htm
 
#12
Found this
Code: 
http://arstechnica.com/security/2012/12/how-an-internet-connected-samsung-tv-can-spill-your-deepest-secrets/
form 2012. Sitting behind a router gives some security and even in the update to that thread it stated just that. But, sitting behind a router and then an internet filter running updated antivirus and a strong firewall stacks the odds a lot more.

I am digging through linux a little trying to find something suitable to me. So far I've dismissed dd-wrt86 ipfire and zeroshell. The draw for me is that everyone has an old pc or laptop sitting somewhere. Why not use that to secure yourself or play with to decide if you need it? I'm actually testing on a wyse 10 inch laptop with 1.2 processor and 1 gb memory because it's small and easy for me to play with. That's on the small scale for resources but shows that almost any processor you have lying around can be refurbished. Mine's more than adequate to run linux and after can be tucked away almost anywhere and forgotten like you would any router.

On the purchase front the cheapest solution I found was over $100 and itself ran some linux on it. A lot of them run the same linux version you can load on a pc like I'm playing with. I would like to put more time into the search but I'm currently limited by unrelated issues. The software is out there- just a matter of finding it :)
 
#13
I have a Panasonic Smart Tv, I read the agreement that I had to agree to in order to use the Smart Tv internet software that they use and it allows them to collect, use and do whatever they like with the information collected. I viewed this as too invasive on what I watch, what is connected and where it comes from so I declined to use it. In fact I went into the Smart Tv programming and made sure it couldn't connect with any internet service. I'd advise anyone with a Smart Tv to read any agreements that are tied to the software and the internet before they agree to it.
 
#15
date said:
And how about updating the software on your tv which is necessary to maintain and improve the functionality of your tv.
Click to expand...

You can update your tv software by downloading the update to your PC, unzip it, if it needs to be unzipped, transfer the software to a USB stick and load it via the USB port on your tv.

This can be done without firing up or connecting your tv to the Panasonic website or the internet. Not sure if this is what you're referring to, if not, it was worth mentioning.
 
#16
BIO said:
Thanks date, checked the link out.
Problem is the tiny processor and no wireless.
Not sure when it was originally manufactured, but my router probably has a better firewall.
Really wanting the firewall and antivirus both in an updateable form.
Actually been messing with ipfire a little tonight but I don't think it's what I want either.
A lot has changed since I used it but wireless is still lacking and speeds are an issue.

You might want to check out an inexpensive option ...Hidemyass...it provides a secure server with scrambling, descrambling with random 128 countries including China for $ 5 bucks a month. Save buying a firewall or the hassle and any prying or spying. Read the reviews and get more information before making any decisions as it might be your best option.
Click to expand...
 
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