Router Firewall

[L8NightHype]

Greetings. I was just curious, are all routers equipped with firewalls? I mean, how does that work? Do they use NAT to mask the address or something to that effect?

I have a wired Linksys 4 port router. Is there a way to do advanced configurations to the firewall via the browser config utility? I am not all that worried about security with my lil old network, I just enjoy learning this stuff...righteo

L8R

[Midknyte]

Most home routers have at least a NAT firewall. Some have additional filtering available.

You can adjust port forwarding, etc. from the advanced section of the web config utility.

[chubtub]

Just head out to the Linksys web site select what you have and there should be a user guide for it.

There should be a way to configure it through a browser, very easy to do although I had to take my time and read it all.

[cat5e]

All Entry Level Cable/DSL Routers by default are NAT-Firewall. Some have additional protection like Statefull Package Inspection (SPI).

When you use few computers to share one Internet connection, the information that comes from the Internet needs to know to which computer it belongs. The main function of Cable/DSL Router is to Route the Internet signal to the requesting computer. This function is called Network Address Translation (NAT).

As result information that comes from the Internet and was not requested by one of you LAN’s computers (e.g. hacking attempts) does not know where to go, and it is blocked, hence NAT Firewall.

When you are connected to a Website or downloading files, a lot of junk can get to your Hard Drive. Since you requested the pages for the site the NAT Firewall will not block what comes in from this page. If the “Site Keeper” loaded the page with “Junk” it will get to your computer.So you have NAT-Firewall but you can end up with Viruses, Zombies, Trojan etc. "Dished" to you by sites that you visited on your own volition,

Since the NAT-Firewall blocks ony Incoming, any communication initiated from any of your LAN’s computers will go out to the Internet, and will be answered. As a result programs calling home, spywares, “zombies” etc. can communicate freely in lieu of the NAT Firewall. You will not be aware of these activities unless you monitor the communication locally with a software Firewall.

Most decent software Firewalls will alert you to existence of this communication, and will allow controlling it in various ways.

In addition using programs like Ad-ware, and Trojan Blocker, will further secure the Network.

How much safety you need? It is a matter of Surfing habits and personal preference?

[Bigjakkstaffa]

For the money i dont thnk you can go wrong with one of these in terms of firewall and security, cost and ease of use

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=45295

--Jakk:t

[L8NightHype]

cat5e,

Really, it is just a matter of education. I am not all that concerned with my home network. NAT will be fine for me right now and I don't even file-share. I am not too risky. Just wanted to know how my Linksys works. I am studying networking and want to understand. I am getting into routers more this year...thanks for the great info!

L8R

[r8500]

cat5e, that was very informative, and very well said :)

[cdroman]

Originally posted by r8500
cat5e, that was very informative, and very well said :)


Ditto.