Klarinet Archive - Posting 000108.txt from 2005/07

From: "Doug Potter" <doug@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Identity Theft
Date: Thu, 07 Jul 2005 18:44:09 -0400

A router/gateway is usually to enable more than one computer to connect to
one internet line. It routes data from the individual computers to the
internet - and routes it when it comes back to the right computers. They
often include a wireless access point these days - which brings its own
security issues.

So within your house, you have a LAN (Local Area Network). The router
connects the LAN to the internet (WAN or Wide Area Network).

They are good security devices because they only route data from outside to
inside or vice-versa at your initiation. If someone scans your router, the
ports won't respond and pass the info onto the computers on the LAN unless
you have specifically configured it to do so.

They cost as little as $40. With wireless they are in the $60-$80 range.
They may have changed in price since I last paid attention - and they may be
difficult to get without wireless these days. Typical makers are Linksys
and D-Link.

Wireless is truly wonderful if you have a laptop - but it's important to
configure it properly to avoid security issues.

Doug
http://ConicWave.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Audrey Travis [mailto:clr91nt@-----.ca]
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 3:29 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Re: Identity Theft

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is a router/gateway? What does
it/they do? How does one get one and a firewall?

TIA!

Audrey
On 7-Jul-05, at 3:15 PM, Tim Roberts wrote:

> This is an excellent reason why everyone with a DSL or cable modem
> should be using a router/gateway with a firewall.
>
> --
> Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
> Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
>

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