<div>
Hi Lesia1265,<br />
DSL routers include a firewall and will protect you from hacking over the Internet as you have to specifically configure the router to allow the inbound connections you want. Zone alarm for example can control which applications on your machine can access the Internet which is something a router cannot do.<br />
This is only one step in ensuring your computer is secure as you also need antivirus software and preferably software to monitor for spyware also.
</div>


Hi Lesia1265,
DSL routers include a firewall and will protect you from hacking over the Internet as you have to specifically configure the router to allow the inbound connections you want. Zone alarm for example can control which applications on your machine can access the Internet which is something a router cannot do.
This is only one step in ensuring your computer is secure as you also need antivirus software and preferably software to monitor for spyware also.

<div>
putting a router between the PC and the cable/dsl modem would provide you an extra layer of security for sure. Most consumer broadband routers have firewall features built in at no extra charge. Conversely, most small office firewalls will work in a broadband environment without and additional router. The only time you need both a router and firewall is if the Internet feed is anything other than Ethernet, like a T1 or if you don't have a DSL modem.<br />

</div>


putting a router between the PC and the cable/dsl modem would provide you an extra layer of security for sure. Most consumer broadband routers have firewall features built in at no extra charge. Conversely, most small office firewalls will work in a broadband environment without and additional router. The only time you need both a router and firewall is if the Internet feed is anything other than Ethernet, like a T1 or if you don't have a DSL modem.


<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I have a pc that is constantly connecting to the internet. I have zone alarm as a firewall and have also tried Nortons. &nbsp;Would connecting the pc to a router solve this problem? And would you really need to run both a router and a firewall?
</div>
</div>


I have a pc that is constantly connecting to the internet. I have zone alarm as a firewall and have also tried Nortons.  Would connecting the pc to a router solve this problem? And would you really need to run both a router and a firewall?

firewalls verses routers

Software firewalls, also known as host-based firewalls, provide a layer of software on one host that controls network traffic in and out of that single machine. Most operating systems now include firewall software, but many available software firewalls include central distribution, antivirus systems and disaster recovery.