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I have a linksys BEFSR41 router which I just upgraded the firmware for and changed the password and I wanna know if this will give me any kind of protection against hackers?
I heard people talking about how when you use a router hackers can't see your real ip address, only the ip address of your router. But I checked at whatismyip.com and I think it tells me my real IP. Is there something I have to set up first?
also, if a hacker has my ip address do they have to go through my router first?
sorry I'm kinda dumb with this stuff and I dont know much about computer security
yes, a router is a good source of security but, dont over react to the word hacker. the chances of actually getting hacked are remote, dont get caught up in the paranoia hype. just use your head online and you'll be fine
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...so "whatsmyip.com" knew your real IP? Of course they did, you told them what it was!
Most people believe that clicking on a link takes them to a web page, NOT TRUE!
When you click on a link, you are actually asking for information by sending out a TCP-IP packet. This packet contains the IP of the server you want to communicate with, your return IP and the information you are seeking.
When the server recieves your packet, it begins streaming packets back to you with the information you requested.
Routers use what is known as "Stateful Packet Inspection". Basicly it examines each packet coming to you and verifies that 1. It is addressed to you personally, and 2. It is actually information that you requested.
Test it yourself, you have your IP, go to a neighbor and try pinging your IP from his house. Be sure to take your lunch and your checkbook, you will be there a long time because a router will block the packets, knowing the request did not originate from your PC.
My apologies to the purists for over simplifying the TCP-IP process.
_________________________
The internet is no longer a toy, it's a COMBAT ZONE!
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Hey Martin yours is a good post. No you didn't oversimplified the TCP/IP process. IMO you may have overlooked the advantages of static IP pool addresses and router NAT.
Regards
i_XpUser
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Agreed, I said I was over simplifying.
Just trying to explain to him how the website knew his IP, and the fact that a router will do it's job quite effectively.
_________________________
The internet is no longer a toy, it's a COMBAT ZONE!
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PS: I just tested whatsmyip.org from 3 different computers on my home network, each one recieved the exact same IP address.
No doubt the website is seeing the router's IP rather than the network IPs, one more sign that a router does exactly what it's supposed to do.
_________________________
The internet is no longer a toy, it's a COMBAT ZONE!
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I just had a look at whatismyip .com, .net and .org. All three returned my real IP address. In my case this is the IP address used by my modem. A hacker using ths address could try to hack into that! Yet they won't find my router let alone my PCs.
What is of concern is I have come across some web sites that can tell me my internal IP address 192.168.xxx.xxx. I believe that this is more of a trick involving java script querying my computer and displaying the results. Even if such a program could send this information to a hacker, I don't think it would do them much good. The router' Stateful Packet Inspection would stop them in their tracks.
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The term "Hacker" should be clarified as everything else was.There is a mis-conception in the pc world of what a hacker is.I think you guys are refering to crackers instead of hackers.There is a difference between the two.
* A hacker is a person intensely interested in the arcane and recondite workings of any computer operating system. Hackers are most often programmers. As such, hackers obtain advanced knowledge of operating systems and programming languages. They might discover holes within systems and the reasons for such holes. Hackers constantly seek further knowledge, freely share what they have discovered, and never intentionally damage data.
* A cracker is one who breaks into or otherwise violates the system integrity of remote machines with malicious intent. Having gained unauthorized access, crackers destroy vital data, deny legitimate users service, or cause problems for their targets. Crackers can easily be identified because their actions are malicious.
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Freak, as a purist, you are correct.
However, to the other 99.999% of the computing world, a hacker is anyone OTHER than the person physically sitting at the keyboard, irregardless of their intent.
_________________________
The internet is no longer a toy, it's a COMBAT ZONE!
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Martin, so what you saying is...
I'm a hacker for telnetting into a computer at school? Hacking is not allowed at my school, but telnetting in is needed to do work.
Maybe 99.999% of the computing world is probably an over-dramatic statement on your part.
If everyone in the world was included in the computing world, which is almost 6.5 billion, then only .001% of the world would know the real definition of a hacker. This number is about 50 thousand people.
With the word hacker having the same meaning in over 20 languages, 2500 people using a word is a little low to justify any dictionary to include the definition.
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