Is my computer exposed to the world?

Question

Our setup:  Adelphia cable comes into house and into cable modem.  Cable connects cable modem to a Linksys WRK54G Wireless-G Broadband Router.  Daughter's Dell Dimension 4600 is connected via cable to router.  I have an Inspiron 8200 Laptop connected to router via the wireless adapter that came with the WRK54G (it was a kit).  Both computers are running Win XP.   I keep reading: 'this type of network configuration is not recommended because both computers connect directly to the internet.  There is no reliable way to share files between computers  while protecting your computer from internet security threats.  Microsoft recommends a network in which all computers connect to the internet through a single computer or through a gateway.  The network setup wizard will enable the Internet connection firewall on this computer.  ICF will protect this computer from Internet security threats but might also prevent this computer from sharing files with other computers on your network.'   Can anyone address this for me?  Since we are BOTH behind the router firewall AND running McAfee security center, are we at risk since we are sharing files?  Can anyone else get onto our computer and see files?   Thanks!   Rhonda

volcano11 · Answer

I don't know what context you pulled that information from, but it does not apply to you. It only applies if you are connected through a cable/dsl modem and all computer are getting a public IP address. The key statement in what you posted is:

"Microsoft recommends a network in which all computers connect to the internet through a single computer or through a gateway".

A router is a gateway, and thus you are following Microsoft's recommendations. This does not mean, however, that you are completely safe, but you are a long way there. You can test the connection on all of your computer by going to www.grc.com and running a series of tests.

Note that file and printer sharing takes place behind the router and the firewall it provides.

Steve

jwatt · Answer

Rhonda, ' Microsoft recommends a network in which all computers connect to the internet through a single computer or through a gateway.' That part of the quote is accurate. The WRK54G router is your gateway. Your systems are not directly connected to the Internet. The wireless router that's part of the WRK54G kit is what's directly connected to the Internet. The initial part of the text you quoted doesn't apply to an Internet connection made through a router. Jim

johnallg · Answer

Log into the router (Linksys) and turn off the WAN answering to a PING.  Uncheck the box.  Then go here and scan your setup - they will tell you if you can be found by the world, and what needs to be fixed, if anything.

NemesisDB · Answer

I remember reading something very similar to that a few years back when I was installing my first network.  The document comes from a time when switchs and hubs were more common than routers and people were using those to share a broadband connection (and to share files internally).  Feel free to enable file and print sharing -- so long as you don't make any weird rules in your router's firewall, you will be safe.   Also, if you have wireless networking, please enable some sort of encryption as well as MAC filtering -- LAN-side threats from neighbors can be just as bad as internet ones

sugar_bearz · Answer

Thank you to all who have replied here.  This info has been helpful and reassuring.  That said, and I am sure I know how to do it but my brain is sort of fried now on day five --- but, how do I log onto the router -- or access the routers settings?  I cannot think of how to do it.  Thanks guys!   Rhonda

sugar_bearz · Answer

Thanks Steve.  I am there now.  I went into security and under 'Block WAN requests', these are the settings: Block Anonymous Internet Requests: Enabled Filter Multicast:  Disabled Filter Internet NAT Redirection:  Disabled Filter IDENT: Enabled Do I need to change any of those settings?

volcano11 · Answer

Open your web browser and type http://192.168.1.1 into the address bar, then hit Enter. If you set a password on the router, you will have to type it in before you can get into the router configuration pages. If you did not set a password, the default password is admin.

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

In my experience, there is no need to mess with these default settings.  The only thing you should worry about are the wireless security settings. Steve

sugar_bearz · Answer

That is the only place I can find anything about WAN.  Under wireless security, there is only one thing.  It is a drop down box called 'security mode' and the choices are 'disable, WPA Pre-shared key, WPA RADIUS, WEP'.  Right now it is set to 'disable'.

volcano11 · Answer

For the wireless part of your network you probably want to Hide the broadcast of SSID, set up MAC address filtering, and enable WPA encryption. Some good articles on wireless security are:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/wireless_secure.htm (the article is a bit old, so ignore the part on WEP encryption and see the following for infomation on WPA encryption)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277020,00.asp

Steve

jmwills · Answer

A router is a gateway so you are safe there. What you need to do is chnage the admin password fron "admin" to something unique, tunr on MAC filtering for the wireless card (enables only your card to connect, tunr off remote acces, and turn off Plug and Play configuration. You will have elimibated yourself from the "low hanging fruit" crowd and no self respecting hacker is going to deal with you.

Just my .02, or .123 euro today.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Is my computer exposed to the world?

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