PROTECT YOUR WHOLE NETWORK

Networks are where several Computers are connected together, so they can exchange information, and print to a shared Network printer. Networks are very common in Businesses, and are increasingly common in Homes.

These small Networks in people’s Homes main objectives are simply to share an Internet Connection. Many Internet providers offer Network Routers as part of their packages, knowing that many households have more than one Computer.

Imagine this, when just one Computer connects to the Internet, the Modem connects directly to that Computer, and a Software Firewall can be installed on the Computer to sufficiently protect that one Computer.

If you set up a Proxy Server, you are accessing the Internet through the same Port, and so no extra Firewalls are required.

But you don’t even need a Computer to share the Internet connection for you, you can use a Router. A router is commonly used for Broadband or ISDN connections, your Modem plugs into the Router, and the Router distributes the Internet to all the Networked Computers.

Because all Networked Computers are connecting through the same point, only one Firewall is needed to protect from External Traffic, most people assume that Internal Traffic is friendly. Anyway restricting Internal Traffic with a Firewall often causes more trouble than good!

A Network Firewall can protect your whole Network rather than just individual Computers. A hardware Firewall can physically be installed in between your Internet connection, and the local Network, or a Software Firewall can be installed on the Computer that distributes the Internet.

Linux is an Open Source Operating System, one distribution of Linux turns your Computer into a Hardware Firewall, this is very useful for Home Networks that cannot justify buying a dedicated Hardware Firewall.

Hardware Firewalls are more Secure than Software Firewalls, but they are also a lot more expensive. The Linux Firewall only requires a very basic PC to run on, and 2 Network cards, hardly very expensive!

Advantages of protecting your whole Network rather than just individual Computers:

• It involves less management time to setup and maintain one Firewall, rather than dozens of Software Firewalls.
• It stops people interfering in the setup of the Firewall.
• It prevents people bypassing the Firewall.
• A Hardware Firewall can be used to protect against external traffic whilst not affecting internal trusted traffic.

Some Routers provide built in Firewalls, do a search on the internet for “Router Firewall”. It’s a good idea to investigate whether your Router has a Firewall or not, if not then one may be available if you upgrade the Firmware on your Device.

To learn how to upgrade the Firmware on your Device look in the User manual of your Router, all Routers differ so it’s impossible to give you an idea how to do it.

The most effective way of protecting your whole Network from Hackers is to install a Hardware Firewall, but this may require special skills to set up and maintain.

If you are a Home User, we suggest you try to purchase a Router with a built in Firewall of some kind, you could even get a VPN Router.

A Router is already a safer way to connect to the Internet, many Routers are NAT routers, this means your Computer is not at as much risk.

If your Router has a DMZ option, do not use it, doing so would be like connecting a Modem directly to your Computer, and so your Computer receives the internet’s IP address, and is therefore easily accessible from outside.

You want to separate your Internal Network from the World Wide Web, make sure it is very difficult (preferably impossible) for an unauthorised person to access your Network.

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