Protecting Your Network
A high-speed Internet connection is great for productivity. Since the connection is always on, you can access the World Wide Web, make purchases, access your bank account, and even pay your bills online at any time without tying up a phone line. You can watch streaming high definition videos, download music and share photos. And multiple users can do all this at the same time.
But with the convenience of broadband access also comes the risk of Internet intruders. There are a growing number of threats to your network's safety and security, such as viruses, spam email, and hackers. Identity theft is also a very serious and growing issue, as someone could access your confidential and personal information. Consider several scenarios of an unprotected wired or wireless network:
- Someone near your house or even a neighbor could be "tapping in" on the high-speed Internet access that you paid for.
- Cybercriminals could steal your credit card information, user name, and passwords while you are shopping or browsing online.
- Hackers could gain control of your computer or install viruses that could infect your entire network and spread to the people that you email to.
Linksys by Cisco routers offer a variety of security features that help to protect your networked computers and put your concerns at ease.
Network Address Translation (NAT) Technology
NAT prevents hackers from seeing and attacking your network address while you are surfing the web. NAT takes a public IP address and translates it into several private IP addresses, so a computer behind a router with NAT technology is difficult to see by outside hackers. All Linksys by Cisco routers and gateways include NAT security.
Learn more about NAT Technology
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) Firewall
An SPI firewall inspects packets of information coming into your system to make sure they are not an attack from a hacker. When information is requested from a Web site, it is sent out through the SPI router and is noted as a request destination. Any unfamiliar or unlisted destinations are rejected. Some Linksys by Cisco routers include this security feature, so check your product documentation.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPN enables communication over the Internet with another computer on your network using a secure, encrypted connection. VPNs are frequently used by businesses and home offices. It is commonly used by people traveling or working from their home who want to connect to their company's network to check email or access business applications.