Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Purchasing a router.
- Thread starter robwithtoast
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The Asus AC68U has a built in firewall function and an antivirus within the software. Plus it is easy enough to set up in any configuration you like, from any platform on the network.
Really? Hate to break it to you, but standalone routers are pretty much dead. Aside from exotic circumstances, enterprise firewalls are all someone needs, in an enterprise. I've used the Sonicwall integrated wifi firewall for years.
Who mentioned "standalone routers"?
Whatever your dictionary of networking terms may think "router" means, if you walk into a store and ask for a "router" you'll get pointed to a shelf full of combined firewall/router/NAT/DHCP server/DNS relay/wifi access point/ethernet switch*, sometimes with DSL modem, VPN, NAS/Printer sharing & VOIP features. All the devices discussed here are multi-function devices.
(* well, unless you're not shopping on your preferred side of the Atlantic, in which case you'll either get a power tool for cutting grooves in wood or some sort of gardening product for removing roots... Darn, languages are messy...)
My comment was to yours about how the OP 'needs a routing function for his LAN'...
Nit picked, possibly, but aside from an 'access point', all appliances will do 'routing functions', which is probably one of the most overused, and least understood and murky issues today. SO many do 'routing functions', but leave a lot of functionality of a router missing. Whatever. I'm not fully awake, even now... Apologies if misunderstood.
Netgear has inexpensive "business" firewalls with Wi-Fi.
But I upgraded to something faster and better in the same price range.
Although I used the wireless in neither.
The problem I see is that there are so many 'inexpensive' firewalls and routers that have known flaws making them useless, a mere nuisance to a script-kiddie or hacker. And there is the idea that many don't update their products, or change the passwords, or even use a complex password...
Asus routers get updates between twice a month to 4 times a season. There is no point complaining about other people not using their networks correctly if you are not using their network.
I think he is talking about broken SOHOpeless routers, regardless of how many updates they get.
People who think they are 'safe' behind their routers, etc, are the new untapped source for horsepower for MASSIVE DDOS and other attacks. It's only a matter of time. I read an article that was warning about someone actually working to take the internet down. All of it. That is going to be really nasty, and it's possible many think.
@OP
If you are a hard core techie then I recommend you take a look at a Smoothwall router. Find an old computer, install some nic's and load Smoothwall. It is security hardened software, enables you to have separate physical networks for LAN, wifi access point and DMZ. All of them, a couple of them or simnply one of them; your choice.
Smoothwall has never had any serious security issues the likes of Cisco and Asus either.
If you are not a techie, cannot assemble hardware, never heard of port forwarding and Snort nor have an interest in learning about all this then please do not consider Smoothwall. Run away. Far away.
If you are a hard core techie then I recommend you take a look at a Smoothwall router. Find an old computer, install some nic's and load Smoothwall. It is security hardened software, enables you to have separate physical networks for LAN, wifi access point and DMZ. All of them, a couple of them or simnply one of them; your choice.
Smoothwall has never had any serious security issues the likes of Cisco and Asus either.
If you are not a techie, cannot assemble hardware, never heard of port forwarding and Snort nor have an interest in learning about all this then please do not consider Smoothwall. Run away. Far away.
Some people would actually take responsibility for keeping their firmware up to date, some on the other hand would rather parrot scaremongering news articles which have no chance of happening in real life...
I'd personally suggest not watching faux noise as the first step to critical thinking and then a careful consideration of just how many government agencies which have thousands of people working to prevent exactly this kind of thing.
Then consider that your government is not alone is doing this kind of preventative action.
And after that, consider if your concern may be misplaced due to a hyperbolic article.
You accuse me of watching Fox News? I don't know whether to be insulted, or horrified for you.
Check out Def Con, read the reports about OUR government actually exploiting 'zero day' hacks to breach systems. Read about the MPAA that employed hacker tools to invade American citizen's homes searching for 'illegal' content.
Then drive around with your notebook and see how many people don't change the default SSID, and are totally unprotected. Search 'the google' for all of the reports of massive bugs on 'inexpensive' router firmware.
I guess, perhaps, I have a jaded view of the internet and IT security. I had a job where I was concerned with it quite a lot for our clients. The average American citizen doesn't have all that much to hide from hackers, though, do they. Just their entire lives...
I don't know. I'm tired of the know nothings ripping people trying to point out the flaws in this sense of 'security'.
The one thing that I've seen over and over again is that 'you can't save someone from themselves'.
But keep thinking that people that rattle your cage of established reality are 'Fox News addicts' if it helps you sleep at night. #WallOfSheep...
Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite.... far far far better than any of these, add a Airport Extreme AC just as a WIFI AP and you'd be sorted.
I'm a cryptographer. I know considerably more about security than the public sector cryptographers will ever be cleared to know.
I also have a balanced sense of perception, and I can tell when someone needs to get over themselves and their fears.
Especially when they use lame hashtags such as sheep to a kiwi.
I would also recommend ASUS.
Check that you get a model that is compatible with DD-WRT or Tomato (open-source firmware).
I originally used DD-WRT, but it is over complex. I switched to the Shibby brand of Tomato, and have absolutely no regrets.
I make extensive use of DHCP reservations and alternative scopes, using DNSmasq, and also benefit from selective VPN routing, as well as running an OpenVPN server.
All good add-ons for a "$100" router. No extra cost, good support via Shibby's site with regular updates. As I have now used this on a dozen routers, I've donated to the cause, to help keep this open-source firmware coming.
Check that you get a model that is compatible with DD-WRT or Tomato (open-source firmware).
I originally used DD-WRT, but it is over complex. I switched to the Shibby brand of Tomato, and have absolutely no regrets.
I make extensive use of DHCP reservations and alternative scopes, using DNSmasq, and also benefit from selective VPN routing, as well as running an OpenVPN server.
All good add-ons for a "$100" router. No extra cost, good support via Shibby's site with regular updates. As I have now used this on a dozen routers, I've donated to the cause, to help keep this open-source firmware coming.