Question for the group.

I was using a router (Linksys) connected to my cable modem. To the router was
connected an iMac and the Aiport Extreme base station so I could communicate
with my PowerBook.

The Linksys died.

I connected the Airport to the cable modem directly and connected a hub to the
Airport. I then connected the iMac to the hub along with some other ethernet
cables for other locations.

Now the question. Am I sacrificing security? I believe the router had a
built-in firewall which is now longer used.

I have the System Sharing preferences firewall turned on.
--
Harvey Products makers of Dinghy Dogs�
The Boater's Best Friend
http://www.dinghydogs.com
Remove thefrown to email me

Harvey Waxman <info@dinghydogs.comthefrown> wrote in message news:<info-01B89A.12545306032004@news.east.cox.net>...
> Question for the group.
>
> I was using a router (Linksys) connected to my cable modem. To the router was
> connected an iMac and the Aiport Extreme base station so I could communicate
> with my PowerBook.
>
> The Linksys died.
>
> I connected the Airport to the cable modem directly and connected a hub to the
> Airport. I then connected the iMac to the hub along with some other ethernet
> cables for other locations.
>
> Now the question. Am I sacrificing security? I believe the router had a
> built-in firewall which is now longer used.
>
> I have the System Sharing preferences firewall turned on.

The question is what are the threats ? Considering two, first are
worms from the network connection the threat here is pretty small. If
you keep OS X updated and only run necessary services there is little
if any risk from the network born activities. Also the Airport
Extreme does pretty much what the Linksys did before. Second and
larger risk is WiFi itself are you at risk of folks monitoring what
you are sending over the air ? Could someone sit outside or near your
place with a laptop and capture what you send to your Airport ? Could
someone walk up with a laptop and use your high speed internet
connection and do you care ? The answers to these last two questions
determine if you should turning on WEP in Airport or restricting the
users of your network by MAC number.

--jim

In article <5d6ed6b4.0403070327.70966fcf@posting.google.com >,
vze35xda@verizon.net (Jim Schimpf) wrote:

> The answers to these last two questions
> determine if you should turning on WEP in Airport or restricting the
> users of your network by MAC number.

With just two computers on the network and the fact that I can just get a
signal at the other end of my house (no it's not that big a house) I guess I
can rest easy. :-)

Thanks


--
Harvey Products makers of Dinghy Dogs�
The Boater's Best Friend
http://www.dinghydogs.com
Remove thefrown to email me