Router protection question

[Da-Rock]

I have a U.S. Robotics Broadband Router and I just finished my home network. How much protection does the Router really provide?

I will be putting Norton AV 2003 on all three computers and I have Norton Internet Security 2002 available to install on each computer too.

Any advice on what's really needed?

PS - I would like a program that limits my kids abilities on the net.

[gazzak]

How much security does a router provide? Not one little bit, unless it has a firewall built in where you control which ports are open or closed. My own one has that built in, but I still ran my software firewall on all internal PC's until I realised that in 6 months none of the software firewalls were getting any hits because the router was doing such a grand job.

If your router does not have any in-built protection, use the norton firewall software you have.
If it does, still use your norton firewall software until you know for sure that the router is protecting you and set up correctly.

Can't help with the kids software Q, not used any myself!

[Da-Rock]

Thanks for the info. I found a site that tests my router firewall and it looked great except for the computer responded to a ping. I will keep both hardware and software firewalls up.

[gazzak]

It's good practise to stop any ping replies too, (if you can). Was that site grc.com (http://www.grc.com) ? One of the best around.

[TripleRLtd]

It's good practise to stop any ping replies too, (if you can). Was that site grc.com (http://www.grc.com/) ? One of the best around.http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/thumbs.gif Yes it is: GRC that is. On the child protection question: NIS has that built in depending upon the version you have. Basic Norton firewall or NIS?
Oh Bloody Edit http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/wink.gif:
Here is a link for the Norton setting for Parental Control:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/e584eff20b611f7988256a9b007e63c1/33e315e30b0845c488256a9b006fdfc4?OpenDocument&prod=&ver=&pcode=&src=&miniver=&tpre=&prev=&dtype=

[confus-ed]

It's good practise to stop any ping replies too, (if you can).

Not to disagree with the general idea but it depends how/with whom you are connected - my cable service for instance has to have me reply to some stuff or I can't get in ;)