New to Networking

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe G
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Joe G

I jumped in with both feet. I have 3 computers on my network, 2 are using XP
Home and one is using 98SE. All go thru a Gateway Router which is connected
to my DSL modem. Am I correct in my assumption that the router acts as a
firewall? One computer is plugged into the router and two are wireless using
11B and 11G adapters. Just seeking information and possible guidance.
Thanks in advanve.

Joe
 
NAT only provides limited protection. As it can be hacked I
would use some other form of firewall, either software or
hardware.
 
I jumped in with both feet. I have 3 computers on my network, 2 are using XP
Home and one is using 98SE. All go thru a Gateway Router which is connected
to my DSL modem. Am I correct in my assumption that the router acts as a
firewall? One computer is plugged into the router and two are wireless using
11B and 11G adapters. Just seeking information and possible guidance.
Thanks in advanve.

Joe
Click to expand...

Joe,

The router will act as a firewall, protecting your computers from hostile
internet traffic.

But with a wireless LAN, you need to consider the possibility of hostile
wireless neighborhood traffic. Remember your wireless neighborhood may extend
far outside your front door, and beyond the range which YOU get from YOUR
wireless equipment.

Here's a story about somebody's very stupid wireless neighbor. Don't expect all
wireless neighbors to be this stupid.
<http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2003/11/22/264890.html>.

The point is, you need to protect a wireless LAN with more precautions than just
the NAT firewall.

Enable WEP / WPA. Use non-trivial values for each.
Enable MAC filtering.
Disable DHCP, and assign an address to each computer manually.
Don't disable the SSID. But change it - to something that doesn't identify you,
or the equipment.
Find the router activity log. Examine it regularly. Know what each connection
listed represents - you? a neighbor?.
Install a software firewall on each computer connected to the wireless LAN.
Use non-trivial userids and passwords on each computer connected to the wireless
LAN. Disable or delete Administrator and Guest userids.
Stay educated - know what the threats are. Newsgroups alt.internet.wireless and
microsoft.public.windows.networking,wireless are good places to start.

BTW, learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a bit safer.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
"Joe G" said:
I jumped in with both feet. I have 3 computers on my network, 2 are using XP
Home and one is using 98SE. All go thru a Gateway Router which is connected
to my DSL modem. Am I correct in my assumption that the router acts as a
firewall? One computer is plugged into the router and two are wireless using
11B and 11G adapters. Just seeking information and possible guidance.
Thanks in advanve.

Joe
Click to expand...

The router protects your computers against all undesired incoming
traffic from the Internet: hacker tools, port scans, worms, etc.

It doesn't protect them against undesired outgoing traffic from your
computers caused by spyware, viruses, etc. If that type of protection
is important to you, install a suitable firewall program on each
computer.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Thank you, all, for your answers. I had heard that the router did that, but
my documentation had nothing to say about it. Many thanks...
 
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