Chapter 8:
Frequently asked questions
8
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Frequently asked questions about HomePortal
What security features does the HomePortal provide?
The HomePortal provides some of the best security on the market by acting as a
barrier between your computer and the Internet. The hacker simply cannot get
around the HomePortal to attack your computers or your network.
The HomePortal does several key things to protect your computer:
•
As a separate piece of hardware it offers a layer of protection for a computer
owner that software simply can’t.
•
The HomePortal cannot run software beyond what is factory installed. This
prevents a hacker from using the HomePortal to relay attacks.
•
Because the HomePortal uses solid state memory and does not have a hard
drive, it can only provide limited functionality and is not open to becoming a
host to a number of Trojan horses and other hacker applications that are used
to crack systems.
•
The HomePortal hides the IP addresses of the computer(s) attached to it. This
means that a port scanner scans the HomePortal open ports, not your
computers. As a first line of defense, this will stop you from being marked as
a potential victim by someone who is looking for an easy target with a port
scanner. It is similar to a house alarm or large dog that will make a burglar
look for another house to rob instead of yours.
•
The HomePortal also blocks ports. This means that a port may be open on
your computer(s), but the open port will not be accessible from the Internet.
•
The HomePortal prevents denial of service and distributed denial of service
attacks. This means that attempts to attack your home network by using
repeated connect requests, a common technique used by hackers, will fail.
•
The HomePortal supports VPN (virtual private network) software, which
encrypts data and network addresses before sending them through the public
network and decrypts them at the receiving end.
Test your network security. Visit
http://www.grc.com
and use their ShieldsUP! test.
Summary of Contents for HomePortal 1500CW
Page 1: ...HomePortal user s guide Model 1500CW ...
Page 13: ...Chapter 1 Introduction 1 7 ...
Page 14: ...Chapter 1 Introduction 1 8 ...
Page 22: ...Chapter 2 Installing HomePortal hardware 2 8 Click Next to continue ...
Page 34: ...Chapter 3 Installing HomePortal software 3 4 ...
Page 48: ...Chapter 5 Using HomePortal Monitor 5 4 ...
Page 68: ...Chapter 9 Troubleshooting HomePortal 9 10 ...
Page 70: ...Chapter 10 Contacting 2Wire Customer Care 10 2 ...