Do I need Leopard's firewall with the Airport Extreme?

[mchank]

Does the Airport Extreme have its own hardware firewall? If I have the Airport Extreme, do I still need to turn on the Leopard firewall under System Preferences/Security?

 

[kolax]

Leopard's firewall is pretty gash anyway to be honest. Airport Extreme will block out all ports not being used.

However, I have Leopard's on so I know what app's want to use the internet and whether to block them or not.

 

[RaceTripper]

Leopard's firewall is pretty gash anyway to be honest. Airport Extreme will block out all ports not being used.

However, I have Leopard's on so I know what app's want to use the internet and whether to block them or not.

If you really want to know what apps are calling out you need something like Snitch (which is excellent). The build-in firewall is not enough. It blocks incoming connections, not outgoing.

And to answer the OP questions. Yes, leave the firewall turned on. You don't want to forget you don't have it if how you connect to the internet changes. If it's a laptop that you go out with, definitely leave it on (and get Snitch as well).

 

[Jack Flash]

If you really want to know what apps are calling out you need something like Snitch (which is excellent). The build-in firewall is not enough. It blocks incoming connections, not outgoing.

And to answer the OP questions. Yes, leave the firewall turned on. You don't want to forget you don't have it if how you connect to the internet changes. If it's a laptop that you go out with, definitely leave it on (and get Snitch as well).

I tried out Little Snitch and found it more annoying than anything. Unless you're concerned about something phoning home.