New, Secure Router

Wayne N. Kawamoto
Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com

Linksys, a provider of wireless and broadband networking hardware, announced the immediate availability of its EtherFast Cable/DSL Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch and VPN Endpoint (BEFSX41). For as little as a $30 premium over the cost of a basic broadband router, the Firewall Router may enable the sharing of a high-speed internet connection while protecting the network with built-in security features.

The new security Firewall Router is designed to be an affordable solution for home or business users. The BEFSX41 features Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) which polices inbound requests arriving from the Internet, securing the LAN from unwanted intruders. Security intelligence is designed to lock down other network vulnerabilities coming from the Internet, enforcing network security on multiple levels. According to the company, it protects PCs from Pings of Death, IP Spoofing, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, and internal snooping.

The EtherFast Firewall Router features up to two Virtual Private Network (VPN) IPSec tunnels which may be opened to set up a secure connection with the corporate server. This should appeal to mobile workforces and remote offices. For business network administrators or parents of the house, URL and time filtering offer control over access to the Internet. The ability to block Proxy, Java, Active X and cookies may protect the network from malicious code and add an extra level of safety.

The company says that its new router is one of the few that are certified compliant with the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard. With this certification, the router may be secure enough for business customers, but easy enough for homeowners to set up and use. The UPnP feature is designed to allow for the automatic addition and removal of other UPnP certified equipment on a network, without any configuration.

Other Linksys features designed to make networking easier include the Linksys Install Wizard, which walks the customer through the set-up procedure, offering help and guidance for a successful installation. Four 10/100 ports provide auto-sensing of 10BaseT or 10/100 cables as well as the cable type such as straight-through or cross-over. The Firewall Router also comes with a dedicated DMZ port for simple set up and access to video conferencing, web hosting and Internet gaming applications.

Pricing and Availability
The Linksys EtherFast Firewall Cable/DSL Router (BEFSX41) is available now through retail, e-commerce, business solution providers and distributors nationwide for an estimated street price of $119.

Small Business Computing Staff
Small Business Computing Staff
Small Business Computing addresses the technology needs of small businesses, which are defined as businesses with fewer than 500 employees and/or less than $7 million in annual sales.

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