some questions regarding netgear rp614 and port-forwarding

[diewlei]

hello guys,

i just got myself a netgear rp614 4-port router.
errr. where are the options for configuring the firewall?
there is a hardware firewall in this router... right?

and about port-forwarding, a silly question :

if a program eg. icq requires ports 24500 - 24505 to be open for file transfers, can a smart guy then program something that mimics icq (or does it even have to?) and hence trigger these ports and attack a PC through those ports?

thanks...

[Rob(QG)]

The firewalling capabilities are not gonna be top notch (at that price ), but the NAT will protect you from most things.

Opening ports is only a problem if something on your computer is listening on that port. So as long as what is listening is as secure as it can be, then you have nothing much to worry about.

The danger comes from viruses and trojans which may listen on ports that you open - software firewall and anti-virus is your best defence there.

edit:
Nope it has no firewall, just web site blocking.

[diewlei]

good grief!

for a lower price i could had gotten a linksys or smc router with hardware firewalls. what have i done!!!

[Taz]

Originally posted by diewlei
for a lower price i could had gotten a linksys or smc router with hardware firewalls. what have i done!!!

They all just use NAT filtering, for most uses that's fine though

[Rob(QG)]

Yeah, those other models reckon they implement DOS protection, which is unlikely to be effective against a real DOS attack, anyway.

Not that most home users should be worried about a DOS attack.

[diewlei]

any guys using NETGEAR routers? can you configure the firewall settings? there is totally no mentioning of it in the admin page, which i find perplexing.