Whether you are looking to protect a small network in your home or one that is the foundation of your business, you will find that it is first important to understand what kind of threats you might be facing. As soon as you have a computer hooked up in order to connect to the network, you will find that there is a chance that it can be exposed to a number of different risks. When you are thinking about what you can do to make a system a great deal more secure, you will find that an understanding of the risks that you are vulnerable to is something that can help a great deal.
First and perhaps most obviously, is the threat of a virus. While the majority of viruses are simply annoying, there are definitely viruses that can damage your network’s hardware, software, or both. For the most part, a virus is an executable file that will be spread by human means and will require someone to open it before it can do its work on the network. When looking at virus threats, it is worth understanding worms as well, which are considered a subset of viruses. Worms do not need human help to propagate themselves, and in fact one example of the way that they work is to turn your computer into an email server that will distribute copies of themselves.
When looking into network security threats, though, it is very important to consider what risks may be present from inside the system. First and foremost, the idea of bad architecture must be considered. If a network is mis-configured in the first place, it can be a very tempting target for people who are looking to get on it. One obvious example of this would be leaving a wireless network unsecured so that anyone with a network card could get onto it. This can certainly happen in a broader and more disastrous scope.
Interestingly enough, one of the most common measures taken to save time is also one that leaves network systems shockingly vulnerable. Consolidating a lot of services to one machine is a common measure for saving time and resources. It is easy to manage and simple to maintain, but if this single machine is compromised, there is a great deal of harm that can happen. While accidental failure is one thing, there is also the concern regarding the ease with which a single machine could be manipulated. In this case, the answer is frequently redundancy.
Computer network security is something that is very important, and if the information that you are safeguarding has anything to do with money or with personal information, it will achieve even a higher priority. Take some time and think about your system and think about whether it is vulnerable to any of the threats above. The more security that you can provide, the better off you will be. The protection of both your company and your customer depend on this aspect of your company’s working, so always consider what network security means to you.
By: Derek Rogers
Posts Tagged ‘Network Hardware’
What Are the Main Computer Network Security Threats?
March 2nd, 2010The Best Wireless Router For Your Home and Office Network
February 8th, 2010
With the continuous development of wireless technology, there has been a massive production of different types of wireless routers among the different manufacturers. With a wide range of wireless routers in the market, sometimes it is very difficult to choose which ones are the best.
With this in mind, we are going to look into the best routers available based on the tests and reviews of the expert’s point of view.
D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme Router
The D-Link DIR-655 Router is among the best wireless router in the market.. This router has the fastest speed with a wider range of signal compared with other wireless router. The advantage with this model is that it is backward compatible with any 802.11g and 802.11b capable devices. The D-Link Wireless Router will definitely work without any issues if you already have an existing network hardware installed. Interestingly, this model has been tested to work seamlessly with mixed networks.
The D-Link DIR-655 comes with 3 high frequency external antennas which make it capable of providing better signals and wider range. It also has a Gigabit Ethernet WAN port, LAN ports and USB ports. It has dual firewalls for added security. There are three encryption methods available to ensure a secure network connection.
D-Link Xtreme Wireless Router
The D-Link Xtreme Router is one of the most expensive routers in the market. It is pricey compared to other models since it is a dual band capable router. This router is ideal especially when there is loads of video streaming involved while maintaining a constant speed with other users in the network.
The D-Link router’s performance as well as its user interface is impressive. Although the price is expensive, it has surpassed its predecessors in terms of stability and performance.
Trendnet TEW-631BRP
The Trendnet TEW-631BRP 300 Mbps Wireless Router is one of the cheap routers. It is an alternative choice for a low budget wireless network project. Though with a low price, this wireless router does not compromise its performance and stability. This model is also bundled with a 3 year warranty which is a plus factor.
Trendnet TEW-631BRP
For online gaming, the Trendnet TEW-631BRP is the best choice. This wireless router is capable of providing the fastest performance even with the most demanding online games. The Trendnet TEW-631BRP comes with a user friendly interface which makes it relatively simple to setup.
Apple AirPort Extreme
A wireless router from Apple is the Apple AirPort Extreme which costs around $175. Though it is made by Apple, this router is compatible with Windows OS however this is best for Mac users. The Apple AirPort Extreme is a dual band capable router. This Apple router can function in 2.4GHz as well as 5.0GHz without interference.
Asus WL-500W
The Asus WL-500W has features which are not available with other wireless routers in the market. The Asus router is priced at $175. This router from Asus has built in firewalls, encryption, QoS as well as a print server.
Best of all, the Asus WL-500W comes with a built in FTP server, file server and Webcam server. It has the ability of downloading files on its own. This router is impressive with its server capability.
This router is also very easy to setup. It has a user friendly interface as well as a properly organized web interface for easy configuration.
By: David Urmann
Computer Network Routers, Hubs, and Switches
October 22nd, 2009
When computer networks are working well, which we hope is most of the time, the inner workings of the system modules are transparent to the average user. The most common components on a computer network, not counting cables, are “routers”, “hubs”, and “switches”. Many of these modules can be similar cosmetically. Each assembly typically has Ethernet connectors (RJ45, which looks like an oversized telephone plug) and LED indicators. However, these modules function differently, and it is important to understand the differences.
Modern network hardware operates on the “Open System Interconnection” (OSI) standard. This standard defines how communications on a network should be implemented. By conforming to this standard, modules from different manufacturers can coexist on the same network. Wireless networks (WiFi) and the 802.11X standard are an additional subset of network systems.
When a message is sent between computers, it is broken into parts. At the base level, the message is reduced to “1″ and “0″ bits. The next level is a group of bits called a “frame”. A frame contains its control information, including target address and error detection. The next level is a group of frames called a “packet”. The terms frame and packet are sometimes used interchangeably. If a message is sent on a complex network like the Internet, some of the packets may take a different path, and be recombined at the destination.
Error detection is used with both frames and packets. The most common routine is called “Cyclic Redundancy Check” (CRC). CRC sums of all the “1″s in the frame or packet. This number is stored as a hexadecimal value at the end of the frame/packet. At the receiving end, the process is repeated. If the two hexadecimal values agree, the test passes. If not, the receiving device requests that the sending device resend. Most of this functionality is performed by integrated circuits (chips) inside the network modules.
The Hub
The network hub operates on the first layer of the OSI standard, called the “physical layer”. The hub is the most simple of the three modules. A hub is not aware of the contents of the message that is processed; it handles the message as bits. It simply records the signal, and rebroadcast it to all, including back to the port that sent the message. An “active” hub will clean the electrical signal of noise and amplify the signal before rebroadcast. A “passive” hub does not amplify the received signal; it merely receives a signal, and rebroadcast the signal as received to each port. Hubs are sometimes used to link multiple computers with a printer.
The Network Switch
The network switch operates on the second layer of the OSI standard, called the “data link layer”. The network switch, as indicated by its name, switches signal paths, so that a message frame goes to a specific destination. A switch will improve a networks performance, especially on networks with many computers. A switch has enough on-board intelligence to remember the path to each destination. The network switch handles a message in frames.
When you connect a computer to a network switch, the switch will record the Media Access Control or “MAC” address of the computer’s network interface card (NIC). This is called address protocol, or “ARP”. When a frame is received intended for a specific computer, the switch sends the frame only to that computer. By preventing paths of the network from being utilized by every frame, network resources are conserved. Computer A can send a frame to computer B, while simultaneously, computer C is sending a frame to computer D.
The Network Router
The network router operates on the third layer of the OSI standard, called the “network layer”. A router’s name is also indicative of its role. Routers have some of the same capabilities as switches, but routers are most often used to connect two or more networks. For example, a router could be used to connect a wireless network with a conventional local area network (LAN). Another common use is to connect a LAN with the Internet (a “wide-area network”, or “WAN”). In this role, the router uses “Network Address Translation” (NAT) so that all of the computers attached to the LAN can share a single IP address. A network router handles the message in packets. A router uses the IP addresses in the packets to route them between multiple networks.
A personal computer can be configured to handle the function of a router if it is equipped with router software and two or more network interface cards (NIC). A separate NIC is needed for each network.
A router is capable of advanced functions, including serving as DHCP (domain host control protocol) server and Firewall. A Firewall protects computers from potential hazards from the other computers outside the network. Linking multiple networks often requires the conversion of protocols.
A router is an extremely diverse classification. Routers may provide connectivity inside offices, between different locations, and between businesses and the Internet. The largest routers connect Internet service providers, are used in very large business networks, or connect a business with a satellite link to a distant corporate locale. Advanced routers are powerful computers, complete with microprocessors. Very sophisticated routers are used by the Internet to manage the network traffic most efficiently.
A router maintains a table called “routing information base” (RIB) that tracks information about the available routes. The RIB can be static (manually determined by a network administrator) or dynamic (continually updated based on changing conditions). A RIB is simple on a small LAN, but can be extremely complex in the very large routers used on the Internet.
Summary
There are more types of network modules than the three discussed here, and there can be significant overlap in roles. For example, an “intelligent hub” can have many of the characteristics of a network switch. Wireless networks (WAN) have much in common with their conventional LAN cousins, but additional protocol is added for the special security and interference concerns specific to wireless networks. Multiple roles may be combined into a single assembly. Network routers sometimes have subassemblies that function as network switches.
By: Brian Bradshaw
