Router

[fsinz]

Is a router more effective that a software firewall at stopping worm and virus attacks. I have been told that a router will hide your IP address from the world. Is this true? I am looking at geting a router to connect my main PC to and have my laptop wireless so my wife and I can both use the computer at the same time.

[John Prophet]

I would certainly think a router is easier to setup and maintain. Perhaps a software firewall would give more configuration options...but a router is soooooo easy to work with.

And actually the best method is a router AND something like ZoneAlarm free firewall.

JP

[John Prophet]

Do you have broadband? The wireless routers can be had now for something like $30 if you find a rebate deal.

They usually have 4 wired ports and also the wireless antenna.

JP

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I use a router and have had no worm's/virus' come in, It is very effective against broadcast worms (ones that look for bugs in the OS, )

However a software firewall has 1 thing routers don't. If you download a file, and run it and it's infected with x worm, that worm can now infect your entire network and broadcast out through the router and spread.

a software firewall can block all outbound traffic (or any non-authorized program) thus stopping the software from spreading to the remainder of the PC's on the network.

Routers are great if you know what you are downloading, I use AV on 1 of my 5 PC's and it scans all the HD's weekly, no worm has made it through my router (even with some ports forwarded to certain PC's)

[fsinz]

I am useing a DSL connection and it would be just 1 PC and 1 laptop conected to the router. I plan on keeping my anti-virus program but I am not enough of an expert to figure out all the settings on a firewall program. Thanks, you have answered my question.

[SeanC]

For most of the software firewall programs you don't need to be an expert. Their wizards usually give you a good secure setup.

Sean