Security & Firewalls

I'm a little worried about my level of security on my Belkin G+ MIMO Modem
wireless Router.

I'm running XP Pro (with SP2) and share my computer with 2 other machines,
a laptop, & another desktop machine, (one running XP Home & the other XP
Pro). Apart from the internet, we all share files between machines.

Now I've enabled WPA-PSK with TKIP encryption, also MAC filtering, but I
notice this modem doesn't have NAT provision.

Obviously I have my Firewall on to protect this Network connection, but my
question is: Should I be doing more? In other words is a Software firewall
needed on all 3 computers?

THanks
Charles
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On 26-Aug-2006, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> I'm a little worried about my level of security on my Belkin G+ MIMO Modem
> wireless Router.
>
> I'm running XP Pro (with SP2) and share my computer with 2 other machines,
> a laptop, & another desktop machine, (one running XP Home & the other XP
> Pro). Apart from the internet, we all share files between machines.
>
> Now I've enabled WPA-PSK with TKIP encryption, also MAC filtering, but I
> notice this modem doesn't have NAT provision.
>
> Obviously I have my Firewall on to protect this Network connection, but my
> question is: Should I be doing more? In other words is a Software
> firewall
> needed on all 3 computers?
>
> THanks
> Charles

Charles, to bluntly answer your question. NO. As long as you have a long
nonsense password / encryption key, you "should" be safe. Still, I
recommend that you also have a software firewall running on all computers to
monitor what programs are sending packets from your machine or what programs
are tyring to access the internet without your knowledge. Other than that,
by using WPA-PSK, MAC filtering as well as router with NAT and /or SPI
protection, you are ahead of the game. Take care.

--
----------
Just Me, D

On 26 Aug 2006 09:54:43 -0000, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed)>:

>I'm a little worried about my level of security on my Belkin G+ MIMO Modem
>wireless Router.
>
>I'm running XP Pro (with SP2) and share my computer with 2 other machines,
>a laptop, & another desktop machine, (one running XP Home & the other XP
>Pro). Apart from the internet, we all share files between machines.
>
>Now I've enabled WPA-PSK with TKIP encryption,

Very good with a strong passphrase -- all you really need.

>also MAC filtering, but I

MAC filtering is too easily spoofed to be of value.

>notice this modem doesn't have NAT provision.

Are you sure? Low-end routers are based on NAT(PAT).

>Obviously I have my Firewall on to protect this Network connection, but my
>question is: Should I be doing more? In other words is a Software firewall
>needed on all 3 computers?

Software firewall is a good idea. The one in XP is adequate.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> I'm a little worried about my level of security on my Belkin G+ MIMO Modem
> wireless Router.
>
> I'm running XP Pro (with SP2) and share my computer with 2 other machines,
> a laptop, & another desktop machine, (one running XP Home & the other XP
> Pro). Apart from the internet, we all share files between machines.
>
> Now I've enabled WPA-PSK with TKIP encryption, also MAC filtering, but I
> notice this modem doesn't have NAT provision.
>
> Obviously I have my Firewall on to protect this Network connection, but my
> question is: Should I be doing more? In other words is a Software firewall
> needed on all 3 computers?
>

Where you need to go is to the O/S and harden it to attack, like using
Authenticated User Group on Shares, Disable Simple File Sharing, etc,
which can be done on XP Pro and other things that can be done on Pro and
Home.

The buck stops with the O/S. It doesn't stop with some wireless
encryption or a personal packet filter/firewall.

The buck stops at the O/S.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/articl...ychecklist.htm

Duane