I currently have an old cable modem which is connected to a wireless router. Newer modems have wi-fi capabilities built right in, which I guess eliminates the need for a router altogether.
My (limited) understanding is that routers have built-in firewalls, which work a little differently than software firewalls. So, do these new modems have firewalls built-in as well? If not, I'd be a little hesitant to make the switch. Is the Windows firewall sufficient? Is there an advantage to having a hardware firewall as well? Even a simple google search for "wireless modem firewall" (not with quotes) turns up mostly hits with the word "router."
I'm sure it's more complicated, but am I sort of understanding this right?
Wireless routers/modems and firewalls
i welcome to the community,
most new modems have firewalls built-in to them but to make sure the one that you have/getting you can check on the website your getting it from which will tell you if firewall protection is built in to it.
windows firewall will protect you but i do recommend paying for a antivius program with a built in firewall to give you extra protection.
hope this helps you.
most new modems have firewalls built-in to them but to make sure the one that you have/getting you can check on the website your getting it from which will tell you if firewall protection is built in to it.
windows firewall will protect you but i do recommend paying for a antivius program with a built in firewall to give you extra protection.
hope this helps you.
Thank you. That is reassuring.
To be clear, I do have WSA Complete installed. I'm not relying solely on a firewall. I was just wondering if a software firewall works well enough in absence of a hardware firewall.
Anyway, I ended up getting a new modem. It basically functions as a router and does have firewall protection. The default setting was minimum protection though. I changed it to typical. Kinda makes me wonder if that's standard and if a lot of people have minimal protection because they don't even know to change it.
To be clear, I do have WSA Complete installed. I'm not relying solely on a firewall. I was just wondering if a software firewall works well enough in absence of a hardware firewall.
Anyway, I ended up getting a new modem. It basically functions as a router and does have firewall protection. The default setting was minimum protection though. I changed it to typical. Kinda makes me wonder if that's standard and if a lot of people have minimal protection because they don't even know to change it.
I'm glad that I could help.
+34Hardware firewalls have the advantage of protecting all your devices if you are using your modem/router wirelessly but you are correct that they are usually set at minimum security level. On mine Typical additionally blocks P2P applications which I imagine is standard.
I suspect you are right though that the vast majority of people never change the default modem settings - including the password which is always set as "password"!
I suspect you are right though that the vast majority of people never change the default modem settings - including the password which is always set as "password"!
Login to the community
No account yet? Create an account
Enter your E-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.