[Wiltshire] Is firewall working?

[David Fletcher]

On Wednesday 28 Oct 2009, Lugo Teehalt wrote:
> Have just signed on to virginmedia broadband.  Have put in the wireless 
router myself and switched off wireless - at least the 'radio beakon' icon on 
the front has gone out.
> 
> The router manufactures say: 'By default, the firewall allows any outbound 
traffic and prohibits any inbound traffic except for
> responses to your outbound traffic.'  This is the firewall in the router.
> 
> But cannot work out if the firewall is switched on.  Though it seems likely 
it is on by default.
> 
> Anybody know how to check if it is switched on?
> 

In order to "open a port" on the router "firewall" you have to set up 
something called Port Forwarding. On my router (a Belkin) this is 
called "virtual servers". There is a table where you can specify a service 
type or port number (e.g. 995 is POP over SSL) to be forwarded to a host 
(computer) on your internal network. To do this the host you are forwarding 
the port to will need to have a fixed IP address.

If you want to set up a PC in your house to work as a web server accessible 
from outside, you will need to forward port 80 to that machine.

By default, the table should be all blank. So until you touch it, no data 
packets from outside can ever get inside because you've not told the router 
where to send them.

Does that clarify things at all?

BTW you should have your wireless protocol set to WPA2, and set a strong 
password. Then you should be safe.

Dave


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