Hello everyone!

This is my first post, I was told about this place by a friend. I have a question...

I just got a Cable Modem (and service). I ran the Cable Modem into a Router and then one line to a PC and one line to a MAC G4. My question is this, does the Router act as a good firewall to protect my PC and G4 from the outside?

I upload and d/l videos and mp3's quite often (using Napster, winmx, FTP, etc). Does the Router serve as a Firewall so "hackers" can't get my IP address that the router assigns and get into my system? I just don't know if I need to get firewall protection (a program) or what...Linksys tells me that the Router is enough. What do you think?

Thank you for your help!

Marc

Originally posted by Ghoticov
Hello everyone!

This is my first post, I was told about this place by a friend. I have a question...

I just got a Cable Modem (and service). I ran the Cable Modem into a Router and then one line to a PC and one line to a MAC G4. My question is this, does the Router act as a good firewall to protect my PC and G4 from the outside?

I upload and d/l videos and mp3's quite often (using Napster, winmx, FTP, etc). Does the Router serve as a Firewall so "hackers" can't get my IP address that the router assigns and get into my system? I just don't know if I need to get firewall protection (a program) or what...Linksys tells me that the Router is enough. What do you think?

Thank you for your help!

Marc

The router will only firewall traffic if it's been configured to do so. Most routers by default are configured to pass all traffic.

How can I configure it to not pass all traffic? Right now, I have it set up as a DNS or whatever (can you tell I am new at this?LOL)

Thanks for you help!

Marc

You need to use access lists. It would take many pages and posts to try to explain how they work. What do you want to deny access to?

Rob,

I just don't want people to be able to access my computer (or hack into it) via the Cable Modem. I thought the Router would keep people from being able to do that, that's what Linksys said anyway. I haven't had anyone hack into my computer, but I just want to take measures and make sure no one can.

Thanks!

Marc

If it's one of those network address translating routers, it makes it quite difficult for the hackers to initiate a connection to your computer (unless the router has been configured to forward certain connections on to the computer). That's probably what Linksys means.

Of course, that would help a bit if your machine actually were a zombie and is already running a program that will connect to the hacker's computers...

Rob,

I don't think think he is talking about a real router. Marc, you mean you have one of these right:

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=142&grid=5

In that case you should be fine as long as you are using private addressing behind the linksys (ie your IP addresses are 10.10.something or 192.168.something) this will keep you as protected as just about anything available for consumer use.

Of course, if you really are worried about hackers at the MP3/Movie/FTP sites you visit getting your IP address...the best advice is not to visit those sites :).

http://linksys.com/products/userguide.asp has user guides available in PDF format. I snagged one to see. Also, there appears to be detailed faqs there on various things. Worth spending a few min lookin around.

From what I can see from the docs, you configure it thru your webbrowser n have a fair amount of control over how open/closed your internal network is. Might have to get one of those myself. :)

Originally posted by uuallan
Rob,

I don't think think he is talking about a real router. Marc, you mean you have one of these right:

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=142&grid=5

In that case you should be fine as long as you are using private addressing behind the linksys (ie your IP addresses are 10.10.something or 192.168.something) this will keep you as protected as just about anything available for consumer use.

Of course, if you really are worried about hackers at the MP3/Movie/FTP sites you visit getting your IP address...the best advice is not to visit those sites :).

uuallan,

Yes, that's exactly what I have. And from what you say...it makes sense. There is no way for a "hacker" or anyone else to get to my computer because the only IP address they see is the Router's. The Router assigns me (and my wife's G4) an IP address that changes all the time. Now it is all making sense. :)

Oh yea..I liked the comment about me being worried about hackers getting my IP address. That's a good fix, just don't visit those sites! HA!! :)

Thank you to everyone for helping!

Marc