LINKSYS BEFSR41 router

[geo]

I'm thinking of buying the LINKSYS BEFSR41 router. I've heard this is a very
good wired router. Will this unit server as a good firewall also? And, with
this router, can you or should you use a software firewall too. I believe
RoadRunner offers something in software firewall. Anyone using this router
and can I have some opinions please.

thanks

 

[Jerry]

I have one and it does not come with a firewall - you will need software
(ZoneAlarm is the best).

 

[NewMan]

BEFSR41 is a good basic router. There is an option to "BLOCK WAN
REQUEST". This sets your ports into a mode where they do not respond
in any way from an outside "ping". This is "stealth" mode, and is a
good way to stop people from finding your IP and then trying to hack
into it.

I do not believe that this router has SPI (State-FULL Packet
Inspection).

If you have a few extra bucks how wbout the D-Link DGL-4100???

http://games.dlink.com/products/?pid=371&#DGL-4100

But either way, you need to have that software firewall, and ZoneAlarm
is about the best, and it is FREE.

 

[Rick]

I'm thinking of buying the LINKSYS BEFSR41 router. I've heard this is a very
good wired router. Will this unit server as a good firewall also? And, with
this router, can you or should you use a software firewall too. I believe
RoadRunner offers something in software firewall. Anyone using this router
and can I have some opinions please.

thanks

the answer is yes you should use a software firewall. One that protects
out going as well as in comming.

 

[Leythos]

I'm thinking of buying the LINKSYS BEFSR41 router. I've heard this is a very
good wired router. Will this unit server as a good firewall also? And, with
this router, can you or should you use a software firewall too. I believe
RoadRunner offers something in software firewall. Anyone using this router
and can I have some opinions please.

The Linksys BEFSR41 and other models and other vendors products like it
are actually "NAT Routers". The NAT function is a ROUTING function, but
some hair-brained marketing type got the idea that they could call that
a Firewall Functions.

In reality, NAT has nothing to do with Firewall, but can be found in
most firewalls, but having NAT does not mean you have a firewall.

In the case of a NAT Router, I believe every ISP should issue one to
every person they let subscribe to their service - it would sure mean a
lot less compromised machines and a lot less zombies reachable.

The Linksys BEFSR41 makes a very nice first layer of protections,
followed by the Windows firewall and quality Antivirus software,
followed by FireFox and not running as a local administrator.