Having a secure home network is your best defense against unwanted intrusions from the internet. Two methods (with multiple options) can be used to secure your home network. The first is hardware and the second is software.

Note before continuing: All the hardware and software in the world you use to protect your home network will not protect you against ignorance. You need to use common sense when using the internet. If there’s an e-mail you think looks suspicious, don’t open it. If there is a web site you think is suspicious, don’t browse that web site, and so on.

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Your router, in addition to being able to connect the computers on your network, is also a firewall. A firewall is logical “barrier” that is designed to prevent unauthorized and/or unwanted entry to your home network. By design, a router will not allow unauthorized computers from the internet (i.e. “from the outside”) to browse your network and the computers connected to it unless you specifically program it to do so.

Notes for parents with children who participate in online gaming: Many games for purchase allow for online play, however, several of these require that you open specific network ports in order for the game to be used properly over the internet. Use caution when doing this. Do not let your child go into your router’s settings and “open everything up”. This will cause an extreme security risk. Always make sure to modify any router settings concerning network ports YOURSELF. If your child complains, STAND YOUR GROUND. It is not worth it to allow your network security to be compromised just so your child can play a game – the risk is too great.

Configuring your Router for Optimum Security

The router was usually considered the optional piece to the home LAN. This marvel of technology not only facilitates an efficient way to split one connection to the ISP to multiple computers without the need for software solutions, but also provides for a number of key functions, most notably providing hardware firewall security. With the rise in popularity of wireless networks, routers have evolved to include a wireless AP (Access Point).

Do I need a router?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it is highly recommended that you use a router:

• Do you have a wired or wireless LAN with one or more computers connecting to a WAN or the Internet?
• Do you have a non dial-up connection to the internet?

If you have a single computer dialing into an ISP to connect to the internet, you likely do not require a router for a firewall; however it is highly recommended that you use a software solution as your firewall. Windows XP provides a software firewall that can be used efficiently. With the release of Service Pack 2, the firewall has undergone a number of improvements that make it a good choice. Some antivirus offerings (like Norton and PC-Cillin) have evolved into internet security suites providing adequate firewalls. If you want a dedicated software firewall, ZoneAlarm, Kerio Personal Firewall or Sygate Personal firewall provide adequate protection.

Does a router provide perfect security?

Using a computer behind a router is definitely a step up in securing a network or a computer, but it does not provide perfect security. Let’s face it, there is no perfect security; as with the ying-yang of our species’ creative and destructive tendencies, perfect network security is a myth that no good system administrator will believe in. There are various levels of security, and a router’s firewall is one that will provide adequate security at a reasonable price. The firewall forms a restrictive barrier for incoming traffic; unfortunately there are many kinds of threats out there that cannot be completely blocked out by a firewall. It is highly recommend that you complement the router with a good, updated real-time scanning antivirus program. A router’s firewall also has a limitation on monitoring and restricting only incoming connections; if your computer has already been infected with a rogue code (virus, Trojan or spyware), and is sending out information that you’d rather keep to yourself, the router will do nothing to stop this flow. A software firewall, however will likely point out when a specific program tries to send out information.

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