Firewall

[Tool Man]

How do I know if my network switch has a firewall?
I'm on 600K cable, and I recently bought a wireless router/switch to share the Cable with my laptop.
I run Zonealarm on both machines, but I keep reading people saying that a hub/switch is far better than a software firewall.
Is just being on a hub safer, or do I need to turn something on?

It's a US Robitics model USR8054. (802.11g)

Thanks.

[redwudz]

It has a firewall, according the USR. You should have a look at the manual to see how to set it up. What the firewall in a router basically does is change the address your computer uses to one that is not directly accessible from the internet. It also has the capability to block unwanted ports that hackers or unwanted outsiders can use.

You should be able to log onto your router from IE. Mine at least has an internet address. Also has a default password. My ISP address is something like 67.105.22.37 and the router translates that to a local intranet address of 192.166.112.5 that my computer can use. Anyone contacting your computer will see the firewall and not your computer or any others you have hooked up. I have 3 or 4 on at times and my cable internet supplier cannot see them.

[Tool Man]

Yeah it does have settings that I can access by typing the IP into explorer. I did a bit of research on the wireless security, and managed to get that sorted, to prevent anyone nearby from logging in and using my net connection or seeing my shared files. But I can't see anything about a firewall, unless it's called something else?

Thanks again.

[redwudz]

Most routers don't refer to it as a firewall, but from the USR site for your model # features Firewall (using Network Address Translation technology). Routers use NAT (Network Address Translation) that changes your internet IP address. They define this as the firewall, along with the ability to block ports. I believe it's probably the default setup. To check your protection, try this site or a similar one. It can check the security of your setup by running a port scan to see if there are any major loopholes. Hope it works OK from your location.

http://www.broadbandreports.com/scan