Security & Firewalls

Aug 26, 2006 3 Replies
T

I'm a little worried about my level of security on my Belkin G+ MIMO Modem wireless Router.



I'm running XP Pro (with SP2) and share my computer with 2 other machines, a laptop, & another desktop machine, (one running XP Home & the other XP Pro). Apart from the internet, we all share files between machines.



Now I've enabled WPA-PSK with TKIP encryption, also MAC filtering, but I notice this modem doesn't have NAT provision.



Obviously I have my Firewall on to protect this Network connection, but my question is: Should I be doing more? In other words is a Software firewall needed on all 3 computers?



THanks Charles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This message was posted via one or more anonymous remailing services. The original sender is unknown. Any address shown in the From header is unverified. You need a valid hashcash token to post to groups other than alt.test and alt.anonymous.messages. Visit

formatting link
for abuse and hashcash info.


Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
D

Charles, to bluntly answer your question. NO. As long as you have a long nonsense password / encryption key, you "should" be safe. Still, I recommend that you also have a software firewall running on all computers to monitor what programs are sending packets from your machine or what programs are tyring to access the internet without your knowledge. Other than that, by using WPA-PSK, MAC filtering as well as router with NAT and /or SPI protection, you are ahead of the game. Take care.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
J

On 26 Aug 2006 09:54:43 -0000, snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote in :

Very good with a strong passphrase -- all you really need.

MAC filtering is too easily spoofed to be of value.

Are you sure? Low-end routers are based on NAT(PAT).

Software firewall is a good idea. The one in XP is adequate.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
D

Where you need to go is to the O/S and harden it to attack, like using Authenticated User Group on Shares, Disable Simple File Sharing, etc, which can be done on XP Pro and other things that can be done on Pro and Home.

The buck stops with the O/S. It doesn't stop with some wireless encryption or a personal packet filter/firewall.

The buck stops at the O/S.

formatting link
Duane :)

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required