Firewall enabled?

jonah66

Hi guys and gals,
I've recently jumped into the 21st century and set up a wireless network at home (well, if you can call a desktop and a laptop a 'network' that is!), using a micra digital (Belkin) F5D7630 ec4A-E router.
All's working well, but I'm a little concerned that the routers firewall isn't enabled. I've set it to 'enable' in the router's configuration, but in XP's 'Network Connections', the details next to 'WAN Connection' say 'connected' but don't say 'firewalled'.
Is this right?
Cheers

Moneymaker

In your Router menu you should set it to hide the SSID.
Set Access control so that only computers with specified MAC numbers can access the network.
Set WEP encryption key.

I can't be more specific as it depends on the actual router model.

Browntoa

thats right...but I would back up the routers one with a free software firewall,Kerio is very good

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Kerio-Personal-Firewall.shtml

don't worry about the "30 day trial" bit, this is some extras that will never be used, the firewall reamins working and updates as needed

espresso

Moneymaker wrote:

In your Router menu you should set it to hide the SSID.
Set Access control so that only computers with specified MAC numbers can access the network.
Set WEP encryption key.

I can't be more specific as it depends on the actual router model.

It would be far better to use WPA-PSK encryption and simply forget about MAC address filtering ans hiding the SSID!

jonah66

Cheers for the quick replies fellas:T .
I'm currently using WPA encryption, and also have Zone Alarm set up on both desktop and laptop.
What does SSID hiding do?
Sorry for my ignorance:rolleyes:

espresso

jonah66 wrote:

What does SSID hiding do?

Not a lot really! It stops others seeing your wireless network but this can cause problems because others may set up their network on the same channel as yours. Wireless networks are becoming increasingly popular due to ISP's now giving wireless routers away, I can now see five that weren't there only 2-3 months ago. As most users don't bother to change from the default channel, interference is likely from neighbouring networks and making them invisible to others doesn't help!

jonah66

Thanks again espresso.
So I assume that even though it doesn't say 'firewalled' in my network connections window I should /I] be OK, as it says 'enabled' in my router configs, and I have ZA installed as a kind of belt and braces approach.
Sheesh, this is too much for me on a Saturday morning:beer:

matty_c608

Even hiding SSID is useless. They are still perfectly visible if a software program wants to show them!

espresso

jonah66 wrote:

Thanks again espresso.
So I assume that even though it doesn't say 'firewalled' in my network connections window I should /I] be OK, as it says 'enabled' in my router configs, and I have ZA installed as a kind of belt and braces approach.
Sheesh, this is too much for me on a Saturday morning:beer:

Yes that's correct. ZA will protect you as a software firewall and will also protect from outgoing traffic which the hardware firewall (router) won't.

jonah66

Thanks again espresso and everyone else, a great help:T