BROADBAND INTERNET SECURITY
Broadband Internet Security: Network Address Translation (NAT)
Network Address Translation is one of the best ways to ensure broadband Internet security. NAT makes it so that you can use as many computers as you want on just one IP address.
1 - Nat separates the public address from the private address
2 - The Cable Company gives you a unique Public address and charge you a crap load of money (at least that is my experience)
3 - The Telephone Company connects to your Cable Router/Modem via RG-58 Cable
4 - The cable device supplied by your ISP should always use the NAT feature. If it does not have NAT, apply NAT to your own router.
I suppose that some cable companies supply cable routers with security features but I haven't had any. I usually have to buy one with security features and one with multiple ports for all my computers.
5 - Your personal router (aka gateway) will connect to your DSL device with Cat 5 or USB cable. A decent router will have security features such as NAT capabilities and at least four ports using Cat 5. NAT should only be activated on one of the devices (DSL OR your personal Router).
Additional security on your person computer might consist of Virus, spyware protection, pop-up blockers
browser configurations or, most importantly, PATCHES.6 - Your personal computer should have a private address. With DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) activated. The computer will automatically grab a private IP, Gateway IP an Subnet Mask from the attached router.
Note: the router must have the ability to do DHCP and have it activated. Check advanced features.
SEE DSL NAT DIAGRAM AT THE BOTTOM.
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) issued you one (or more depending on how many you ordered) IP addresses that are exposed to the Internet. This is your unique IP address that needs to be exposed to other servers, routers, and other internetworking devices on the Internet in order to surf the Web; although there are ways to hide your public IP address.
NAT used on a router will
use your
public ISP issued IP address to surf the web while hiding the computers
you use to surf with by issuing them “private” IP addresses.
Private IP addresses are not capable of directly accessing the Internet.
Private address consist of:
10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255
Note: the Internet Assigned Number Authority
(IANA) has reserved these numbers
for private use. Every public IP address must be unique but Millions of people
around the world use the same private addresses because they are not exposed
to the Internet.
MORE ON Network Address Translation.
1 - Nat separates the public address from the private address
2 - The telephone company gives you a unique Public address
3 - The Telephone Company connects to your DSL Router/Modem via telephone line.
4 - The DSL should use the NAT feature. If it does not have NAT, apply NAT to your own modem.
5 - Some DSL devices allow you to connect a telephone to them as well as your network.
Other telephones and faxes on the same line in must have a filter
6 - Your personal router (aka gateway) will connect to your DSL device with Cat 5 or USB cable.
As stated above, a decent router will have security features such as NAT capabilities and at least four ports using Cat 5. NAT should only be activated on one of the devices (DSL OR your personal Router).
7 - Your person computer should have a private address. Use
DHCP to automatically assign IP addresses.