Router / Security question

Hey everyone, fist off if I posted this in the wrong place I apologise. I wasn't sure whether to post under networking since it's a router question or under security. I connect to the internet via satellite. My os is XP home, media edition. My pc is sony viao with pentium 3G dual core w 1 G ram. I use Zone Alarm as my software firewall. I always have ZA on when my modem is on but I turn both off when single player gaming. This always worked good for me....now to the problem. Last week I forgot to turn my satellite modem off while gaming (didn't realize it was on) but I did turn ZA off. After about 4 hrs of gaming I realized my modem had been left on.....too late, damage already done. Pulled several kinds of spyware of the machine but everything is still messed up. System recovery no longer works and I'm having all kinds of other weird problems too. All my data is backed up so I'm just going to reformat and start over (that way I have a clean install instead of a patched together mess, this is a huge hassle though). So here's my question:
If I had been behind a router would that have prevented this from happening in the same circumstances? Dosen't a router act like a hardware firewall? If the answer is yes then how would I go about configuring my pc to work with a router? Is it difficult to hook up and use a router (I know my way around windows pretty well but I am nowhere even close to being an expert)? Never done ANY home networking before so I know absolutely nothing about it. Also what kind or brand of router would be best for the purpose? Thanks for the help, Brian

 

If the router uses NAT you will be protected from many of the automated attacks designed to exploit the vulnerabilities left open on an unprotected Windows system. These attacks are aimed at vulnerable ports. Simplistically, NAT shuffles all the ports around and/or doesn't make them available, so they are not open to these simple attacks.

By default almost all small internet router use NAT, so the simple answer to you question is "probably yes; a router is likely to have protected you PC ".

However, the protection provided by NAT is simple and is not immune to other forms of attack (it will not protect you from someone hi-jacking a connection or denial of service attacks, for example). Therefore, I would not recommend relying on NAT alone to protect computers inside your network. Therefore use NAT in combination with a firewall if you want the best protection. Many routers have stateful packet inspection, and I would recommend investing in one of these (they aren't expensive) rather than the very basic NAT routers.

Personally, I prefer using routers with built in modems, as I find setting up the connection between seperate routers and modems can be the hardest part of setting up a router internet connection. If both functions are in the same box, this "difficult" part of the setup is done for you. However, your choice of router with built in satellite modem is likely to be very small, and therefore you are most likely to have to go for seperate modem and router. Therefore, I would recommend that you contact you ISP or modem manufacturer, and ask them for advice as to a router that will match your modem.

 

What Satellite Provider are you using and what modem?

If your with Hughesnet and using the 6000 or the 7000 modem any router will work.