Do You Have One Of These?

FireWalls . Do you have one of these? Yeah, the photo. I haven't posted for a while about Internet security, and having a router that sits between your home or small office network and your modem (cable or DSL) is the best protection you can get. Modern routers are getting faster; and, most use the draft N standard now, and use multiple antennas to increase speed and data throughput. However, even at $49 to $100, many lawyers and consumers won't take the time to install one. The DSL or cable line that brings the Internet into your house is like an open door. Internet criminals will just walk right in and barge around your computers if you let them. Think of the router as a traffic cop. Internet traffic has to go through the router first, before it is "routed" to the correct computer at home. The router performs a more important function, however. It stops any data that doesn't have the proper credentials. And, unlike some border security guards, it never sleeps. Another important function of this useful tech tool is that it can permit wireless access from other parts of the house or office from other computers. In our household, we have kids and She Who Must Be Obeyed, and the Lord knows who else simultaneously using the DSL line for Internet access. Broadband Internet access plus a properly configured router - priceless.

Comments

[Wm Paul Slough]

And if you want to go a step further, you can dump the stock firmware on the router and upgrade to DD-WRT: "DD-WRT is free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, most notably the Linksys WRT54G (including the WRT54GL and WRT54GS). It is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2." See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dd-wrt. If you have a compatible router, I highly recommend it.

The features are outstanding, especially if you use VOIP and want quality of service (minimum amount of reserved bandwidth for the device) or want to run an OpenVPN server.

Download is here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/
Documentation: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices