Quote - Attached Link: http://www.linksys.com/

I'd recommend a hardware based firewall: they're fast, secure, and cheap, around US$100. (Remember to change to default admin password!)

Often they have features such as a wireless access point, VPN access (secure remote access), a network switch and/or a print server.

For households with children, it can limit internal users' Internet access based on URLs and/or time periods

Since it's not Windows based, it's less likely to compromised.

Generally they're pretty easy to setup.

By the way, this doesn't eliminate the need for up-to-date virus protection on each PC.

I have one of those routers. It wasn't easy to set up at all! You need to figure out how to hook it up and unless you are good with figuring out wiring, it's not easy. Then you have to "program" it. Mine sat in the box it came in for 18 months until I finally asked my nephew, a computer tech, to hook it up for me one day when he was here doing a reformat for me. He even had trouble figuring it out, LOL

Plus you're up a creek if you forget your password like I have. I can't even go in and change settings for anything (not that I know how to), because I changed my password and can't remember what I changed it to, and I have no idea how to go about finding out what it is.

And because I can't remember my password and get into the program to open ports and stuff, I end up having to unplug one of my computers from the network and hook one up directly to the DSL box when I want to transfer a file to someone. It's a real pain in the butt. Stick with a software firewall, at least this way you don't have to worry about being locked out of your security system due to lost passwords. Message edited on: 08/24/2005 07:35

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