Re: Securing A Home Network

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Pegleg wrote:
On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:53:06 -0800, "Kerry Brown"
<kerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx*a*m> wrote:


Are you worried about internal or external security? Most commonly
people are worried about external threats with home networks. This
includes threats via the Internet or a neighbour or someone else
close by hacking into your wireless. For the Internet the router
itself provides some protection. Each computer should also have a
firewall and antivirus program installed. With SP2 I find the
Windows firewall combined with a router to be adequate for
firewalls. For antivirus they all work good enough. None of them
will catch every virus but all of them will catch most viruses. The
important thing is to keep the antivirus up to date. For the
wireless it is important to use the highest level of security that
is supported by both laptops and the router. The highest security is
WPA followed by WEP. You'll have to look in the manual for each
device to see what it supports and how to set it up.

If you are worried about internal security i.e. I don't want my kids
seeing my accounting files or something like that then it is a much
longer discussion to set it up properly. We would need more
infomation.

Thanks Kerry,

Should have specified "external threat"...from what you have said I
guess we are in "ok" shape...each computer has its own firewall & anti
virus and they are kept up-to-date. I was just wondering if it was
possible to firewall at the router...short of using a hardware
firewall. The wireless side is encrypted although we live in a very
remote area with no one anywhere near us.


The very nature of a router gives you a reasonable level of protection. It
does NAT (network address tranlating). Some routers have some firewall like
features as well but any router gives you some basic protection. Sounds like
you are reasonably secure. Personally that's all I use and I can see several
wireless networks where I live. Computer security is somewhat like securing
your house. If someone really wants to break in or if you invite them in
then they can rob you blind. Most crooks are lazy. If you take reasonable
precautions they will move on to someone who doesn't.

Kerry


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Guide to secure installtion of IIS 5
    ... don't forget a well-configured firewall. ... Do not put the computer onto the network or the Internet until after the ... Follow the instructions for hardening Windows and IIS at ... Install all service packs and security fixes from Microsoft and otherwise ...
    (microsoft.public.inetserver.iis.security)
  • Re: Security discussion regarding hubs, firewalls, anti-virus and Vista Security
    ... router does this automatically; they only permit traffic that's in reply to some previous outbound request. ... What security protection should I expect from: ... a software firewall ... The reason I ask this is that I have a Linksys wireless hub with a WEP ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.security)
  • Re: 3 LAN, 2 WAN - 2 LAN use 1 WAN, last LAN uses other WAN
    ... Internet over different paths after that. ... With a single LAN Router for all the segments, ... Then each "business" uses the Firewall they are supposed to use for the ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.networking)
  • RE: security question
    ... You connect to the internet after your OS has booted up. ... security item is in place, only then you logon to internet right. ... By then your personal firewall would have loaded anyway. ... seconds of the network services thus reducing the window size. ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Re: AdAware, SpyBot S &D, etc. + leave PC connected to Internet
    ... >It will be a while I get the router and do that. ... >> labelling on the box to be sure it has firewall features. ... name, like Disconnect from Internet, and click Finish. ... generally talking only about "critical patches" that affect security. ...
    (comp.security.firewalls)