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General discussion

cheap vs expensive router

Sep 12, 2004 11:40PM PDT

Using Win xp home, Mozilla 1.7.2, AVG and Kerio firewall, Ad-Aware and SpyBot.

Want additional firewall security given by router.

Single computer, not on any network, just internet usage, ,

Went to buy a wired router that was on sale with rebate. Final cost $29.

Salesman said that it would be a LOT SAFER if I bought one that cost $89.

Is it really necessary to spend a lot more money to get decent firewall protection?

Thanks

Ben

Discussion is locked

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Re: cheap vs expensive router
Sep 12, 2004 11:48PM PDT

The salesperson isn't there to push the cheaper model. BUT the router firewalls are SIMPLE affairs that simply drop incoming unsolicited packets. That cures almost all the old worm issues and attacks... So cheap is good for that. A new twist is to provide protecting inside the LAN. A compromized machine could attack other units in the home and a newer router may offer support for that.

Downside? Many have no clue what a firewall does, so they can't discuss why and how they want their firewall to do for them. YOU are the firewall designer. There is no standard for "firewall".

Bob

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A cheap issue.
Sep 12, 2004 11:50PM PDT

Some of the cheapest units suffer from a throughput problem. That 10 dollar BELKIN unit a while back worked ok for DSL owners but even they noticed that machine to machine file copies were slower than on a real switched hub.

Cable owners posted many times about the loss of speed.

Stay away from that one.

Bob

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D-Link 4 port 10/100 router (DI-604)
Sep 13, 2004 12:22AM PDT

Ad from Best Buy has D-Link 4 port 10/100 router (DI-604) regular $49.99, on sale after rebate $19.99

Using Win XP home, and SBC DSL.

Will this work as firewall?

Thanks

Ben

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Re: D-Link 4 port 10/100 router (DI-604)
Sep 13, 2004 12:30AM PDT

"Will this work as firewall?"

You didn't DEFINE what a firewall is. Yes, its a type of firewall, but some may want stateful inspection.

As such, this area is nothing but trouble until you define the parameters of what you want the firewall to do.

Bob

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Re: D-Link 4 port 10/100 router (DI-604)
Sep 13, 2004 4:13AM PDT

I have a D-link D-614+. It has wireless also. Pay a few dollars more and you're ready for wireless in the future.

D-link has excellent FAQ and email support. Don't ask me how I know. Wink

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Thanks
Sep 13, 2004 1:27PM PDT

Coryphaeus & Bob,

Appreciate the help.

Ben