Hello, About to switch from Dial-up to DSL. The company is suppling the modem, all I know about it is it will either be a Westell or Paradyne. Will I still need a router for security? Thanks, J.

You dont need a Router for security, but if your ISP is providing one then use it as it will provide a level of security via its built in firewall. Routers are normally used if you want to connect more than one machine to the Internet but you can still use it with one computer. Stuart

But without a router I'd suggest that you use a firewall.

Agreed, a router's features tend more towards protecting and managing a network, not an individual computer, and cost money. There are many firewalls that are free, and provide customized protection for your computer, and are generally easier to configure.

Firewall may be free, but they cost you memory, time booting and shutting down, processor overhead, disk space, disk access time logging hits, program setup time, raw nerves over "hits" and access permissions messages, and bugs and crashes when you forget to disable them when installing programs and updates, or a new virus or Trojan comes out. Router cost money and only have an inbound firewall, but allow Internet sharing and networking, can handle login with password so you don't have to bother with a login program, nice leds to watch blink, new virus and Trojans do not crash them, and for a few $ more you can go wi-fi through out the house if you plan on it.