Linksys Router setup questions

Linksys router model # BEFSR41
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1175239133077&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=3307722279B02

It works. I bought this unit for added security for surfing the internet.

Question:
All the stuff in the settings area is not in my area of expertise. Are there any selections or configurations I need to make in order to make the unit protect me or protect me better?

Thanks.
Jeff

 

You're fairly secure with a NAT router but to answer your question fully...

Do you connect wirelessly or wired, if wired turn of the wireless broadcast, if wireless what security are you using (WEP is BAD). If you must use wireless make sure that WPA is the protocol you're using.

 

This unit and my internet connetion are both completely wired.

 

Then use your current security precautions, the NAT router will give you an additional line of defence (think of it as a moat around the castle) without interference with your current setup...

Unless you provide services to others eg email, website (HTTP), gameing servers etc. These will break unless you configure the router properly.

 

I wonder if, based on what you said, yhis may be the reason that my skype calls drop all the time and I have to call the person again.

 

Very likely, unfortunatly I don't use Skype but you are providing the service (even though you're the recipient), hopefully others will let you know what ports to open.

A quick but dangerous fix is to set your system as a demilitarized zone (DMZ), this removes the NAT from your computer completely (the moat dried up).

I'd suggest it's better to wait until someone familiar with your hardware answers (personally I use NETGEAR)

 

Jeff, If you are not using wifi at this moment, I suggest that you disable it completely on router. A rougue access point is a big security hole both for you & the community [email have been sent by terrorists in India using open unsecured wifi networks].

Better to be safe than sorry.

 

You will need to start researching to be able "configure" the router yourself. Try starting with:
www.practicallynetworked.com
www.homenethelp.com
and look through their tutorials.

You will need to know the router's IP address, you then put that address into your browser's "search" bar. That will allow you to get to the router configuration settings.

The Skype problem sounds like a Firewall (or Firewalls) to me. As mentioned, the router will have a "hardware" Firewall, called a NAT. If you also have software firewalls they could clash. Software firewalls are "Windows Firewall" or may be included with Security suites. You could probably run a NAT firewall with one software firewall, but check there are no more than one (enabled at the same time). If you have say, Windows Firewall enabled, try disabling it during a call on Skype (re-enable again afterwards). If it seems due to the NAT, as mentioned, you will need to check and "allow" access on the port that Skype uses.

This is to the best of my networking knowledge. I will move this to the Networking forum.

Matt

 

As most people are indicating, setting up the router with its out of the box config ensuring you enable NAT, will be a good option and provide you with better security than you would get if you were connecting to the internet directly.

I wouldn't describe a NAT router as a "hardware firewall ". I think that term is best kept for dedicated devices that provide port by port security with services such as stateful packet inspection. The fact the NAT improves your security is almost a lucky bi-product of the way NAT works. NAT is fine if all your traffic is initiated from the inside your network. As soon as you start port forwarding, the security drops significantly and then a hardware firewall is a much better option. Fortunately, the vast majority of users don't need to port forward and therefore NAT is adequate.

As far as Skype is concerned - it should be able to deal with traversing the router NAT system. It's designed to do that or it wouldn't be so easy to use and its use so widespread. Skype performance is more likely to be adversely affected by poor internet connection, other traffic using the connection (including a neighbour using a lot of bandwidth if you are connection with a contention based system like DSL/ADSL), or load on the PC.

 

Thanks for the info. I have Windows xp sp3. I was running zonealarm security suite until I formatted the hard drive last week and thought that the windows firewall would be enough for my general internet surfing. So I'm only using one software firewall right now.

It sounds like the NAT will be enought protection for my general internet surfing.

How can I disable the wifi? When I go into the settings what am I looking for?

Thanks for all the help.

 

After looking at the link in your initial post I don't think your router has wifi so there'd be nothing to disable.

I may be wrong however so look through the manual and see if there's any mention of wifi, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11n, WEP, WPA etc just to be sure.

Those are all wifi phrases and if your router is wifi capable they'll be in the manual somewhere.