Broadband or dedicated server line (DSL) high speed Internet connections are have become increasingly popular amongst websurfers. No more dialing into an ISP, no more AOL spams or advertising of any other nature included with free ISP are enough reasons to spend the extra money (average currently ca. $45 / month) for a permanent high speed internet connection. A further advantage is that, because of the faster download speed, the actual download / opening times are much shorter than on a standard modem. As a consequence, there is little or no interference or competition between individual users even on the same connection (unless you are constantly downloading MP3s). In turn, instead of paying for several ISPs per household, a single cable modem is enough to saturate every computer in the house (within reason).
Because they are fast and usually always on, cable modems and DSL are targets for hackers. Most hackers actually know very little about computers but use pre-coded software or programs that scan for open ports. In other words, in most cases, hacks are not even malicious in the first place but born out of lack of responsibility backed by a certain amount of ignorance. Thus, what was meant as a harmless prank can become a disaster for anyone involved, simply because the hacker can open a Pandora's Box that, by far, exceeds his own expectations and expertise.
Why are there open ports in the first place? The computer needs to get input or data from the web or another user on the network. There are even more open ports caused by programs themselves, or you might accidentally install a Trojan Horse virus on your system - which needs an open port. All these openings sound scary and you might ask yourself "is anything on my computer safe?"
Well its not – but there is a new simple solution, which even has extra benefits! This solution is called a Firewall. There are different types of firewall, some of them are simply software-based, others include hardware. In essence, a firewall is a semitransparent black box that works like a one way mirror, you can look out but nobody else can look in.
Enter the D-Link DI-701
The D-Link DI-701 Firewall / Gateway is a hardware-based way to keep your computer or network safe. The little box literally acts as a filter, by letting the good stuff (web sites, email, games) go through but at the same time keeping unwanted guests out. The DI-701 connects to your broadband modem and either your computer or network hub. It hides everything behind itself; not even your ISP can see what you are doing. The DI-701 hides the IP addresses of the computer(s) it's attached to or on the network, causing any port scanner to just scan the DI-701 itself, it wouldn't even reach a computer! Even if a computer has an open port, which it probably will, the DI-701 blocks these ports, making them inaccessible from the Internet and intruders. It also cannot be used to relay attacks, since it does not run any software, which was not pre installed at the factory. Unlike software firewalls, you have little to lose when hackers see the firewall (because they can't do anything to it) but if your using a software firewall or a proxy server, the computer running the firewall software, is not shielded from attacks or Trojan Horse viruses.
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