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...firewall protection?
My computer will have Win XP Pro SP2. I'm told that, in addition to a software-based firewall, I should use a router that provides protection via hardware, even though I'm not setting up a network. Which router should I get?Thanks in advance!
All routers provide protection due to the fact that they are limited port access and are hardwired. The most sophisticated hack software in the world can't re-wire a circuit board. For the most part that's all you need. The software firewall is just in case you happen to get a dialer trojan that your AV doesn't detect and it tries to dial out, your software will detect it, stop it and notify you.
One day you may want to set up a simple home system, so my suggestion is to get a wireless router. I personally use D Link and have never regretted it. Super support, toll-free number and troublefree operation. Sys Link is also a great brand.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime;
Then industry pollutes the water and kills all the fish.
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That's just...wow.
A router in and of itself provides no protection at all. It just passes packets. What ranchhand is probably referring to are "broadband" routers. They usually do NAT, which provides limited protection. Some also do firewalling, which provides more protection.
That being said, a broadband router really is probably all you need. Unless you need a specific feature, they're all about equally good for your purposes.
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You're right, he did mean a broadband router. That's what 99% of the inquiries in this website are asking for. If he wants a router and is "not setting up a network", what kind of router do you think he meant???
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime;
Then industry pollutes the water and kills all the fish.
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Ahaa....point taken, but still, the clarification for the original poster/question is a good step anyway.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
Teach a man to fish and you never get another day of work out of him."Gone Fishing"
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I know what he meant. I'm just trying to figure out what you meant by "...limited port access and are hardwired."
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Yes, a broadband router will be pretty good for security. One will work equally well for cable and DSL.
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I'm still quite confused. Each brand mentioned has several different models - How do I know which one to get??Some things they told me at Circuit City - are these true?
1. A wired setup is SAFER than a wireless one. (I'm not setting up a network, so wired is fine with me. I'm just concerned about ironclad safety here.
2. The speedbooster (128 Mbps i think) is unnecessary when it comes to Internet speeds. The additional speed ONLY refers to transferring files between computers.Anything else that I need to know.
Here are just a few wired models - see why I'm so confused? LOL
Linksys BEFSR41 EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch
Linksys EZXS55W EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Workgroup Switch
Linksys BEFSX41 EtherFast Cable/DSL Firewall Router (4-Port 10/100 Switch / VPN Endpoint)
(what is vpn endpoint and do i need it?)
Linksys EZXS88W EtherFast 10/100 8-Port Workgroup Switch
D-Link DI-604 4-Port Cable/DSL Router
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>>1. A wired setup is SAFER than a wireless one. (I'm not setting up a network, so wired is fine with me. I'm just concerned about ironclad safety here.
Wireless networking has some security implications that wired does not. These can mostly be mitigated with security measures such as WEP. For most people, wireless networking can be made sufficiently secure when configured properly.>>2. The speedbooster (128 Mbps i think) is unnecessary when it comes to Internet speeds. The additional speed ONLY refers to transferring files between computers.
This is true. Your internet connection is far slower than 128Mbps. And unless you're going to be doing a lot of very large file transfers on your network, 128Mbps won't be noticeably faster than 100Mbps. In my opinon, you don't need "speedbooster".
Some of the models you listed are not routers, and will not function as firewalls or provide any protection. Only the models with the word "router" explicitly in the product description will work for your purposes. That being said, they are probably all about equally appropriate for you. Since I've used it, I will go ahead and recommend the Linksys BEFSR41. But again, any of them will work just fine.VPN endpoint is a way of securely connecting two private networks across a public network, such as the Internet. If you don't know what VPN is, you don't need it.
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