Belkin 802.11g Wireless DSL/Cable Gateway Router - Security
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Security should be your top priority. Wireless routers broadcast the signal in every direction, making it very easy for people standing in the street to access your home network. Once on your network, they can destroy your family pictures and videos, and anything else you find valuable.
The security can be changed in the router configuration. The router has a built-in firewall, which guards against a wide array of common hacker attacks, including Ping of Death (PoD), Denial of Service (DoS), and many more. Under the wireless security panel, you may chose from an array of different security options, such as: WPA-PSK, 128bit WEP, 64bit WEP, and WAP. Belkin recommends the use of WPA, or if that is not an available option for you, 128bit WEP. Though 256bit WEP would have been great, the 128bit WEP is still enough for most home users.
If you are really paranoid you can even filter the IP and MAC address. Under Firewall there are two options, Client IP filers and MAC address filtering. Under Client IP filters you can specify the IP address, the ports you want to block, and even whether they are blocked altogether or only at certain times of the day.
The next option on the list is MAC address filtering. Each network card has a unique MAC address, kind of like vehicle identification numbers (VIN) on cars. You can set the router to accept only the MAC addresses of your personal computers. These two options can help to create just a little more security in your wireless network.
Support
Belkin offers a lifetime warranty, and toll free 24/7 calling. If anything ever goes wrong, you can get it replaced for free. As I mentioned in the beginning, the router comes with a hefty manual. Belkin’s support carries over to their site. They offer an abundant amount of information if it is needed, including How-Tos, FAQs, and a Knowledge base.
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