Secure Internet Connections

Before you connect any device to the Internet you have to be aware of how to protect that device from hackers, viruses, spyware etc.

The threat to the device increases the longer it is connected to the internet but I have seen computers become infected with viruses after only being connected for a few seconds.

When connecting a computer/laptop to the Internet then the minimum requirement is to protect it using a firewall and or NAT router.

Firewalls, Routers and NAT Routers

You will require a Router to connect to the internet if you are trying to connect more than one device. Generally speaking the router connects your home network to the Internet. The configuration is as shown below:

In home/SOHO networks (as opposed to large corporation networks) the router uses NAT (Network Address Translation). NAT effectively isolates your  home network from the Internet in a backwards direction.

That is it allows a computer on your home network to connect to a computer on the Internet but doesn't allow a computer on the Internet to connect to a computer on your home network.

This is effectively the type of protection that you want and is generally sufficient.

A firewall functions like a router and generally what you use is firewall/NAT router combination in which a single device acts as a NAT router and firewall. With a firewall you have an extra level of control as you can also control what device/computers are allowed to connect to the Internet and what applications are allowed to connect as well.

For example

 With a NAT router :

1. All computers on the home network can connect to any computer on the Internet but no computers on the Internet can connect to a computer on the home Network.

With a NAT router and firewall combination then:

1. All computers on the home network can connect to any computer on the Internet but no computers on the Internet can connect to a computer on the home Network.
2. You can allow/block Internet access to selected computers
3. You can allow/block  Internet access to selected applications like outlook express, web browser etc.
4. You can allow/block Internet access to selected computers and selected applications.

Virus, Trojans, Worms and Spyware

Routers/firewalls do not offer protection against viruses, Trojans, worms or spyware. To protect yourself from these types of attacks you need to ensure that each computer you use has at a minimum antivirus software installed and that you use a spyware detector on a regular basis.

Related Articles and Resources:

• Temporary Internet Files
• Where do Deleted Files Go When They are Deleted?
• Privacy Protection Software
• Using a Public Computer on The Internet