[Leaplist] Discuss Firewalls, Routers and Modems re Security

[William H. Ferguson]

This month's issue, September '08,  of Consumer Reports discusses many
aspects of privacy and security for Computer Users on the Internet:
ID Leaks, Identity Theft,  Online Blunders, ---   and the BEST computers
on the market today. Worth a glance.

Prompted by John Simpson's able condensation of just what a PGP key is
and how the Private and Secret Keys function and the essence of what
encryption means, I write to ask whether John and others will discuss
the following topics?

I would like an explanation of the differences between Software
Firewalls and Hardware Firewalls.

Is it true that one's Modem delivering High Speed Internet from my ISP
to my computer is in any fashion itself  a "Firewall?"

When Installing Linux Fedora I am offered a Software Firewall. Should I
install it?  
If I do choose to install it, how much will it interfere with reception
of
most e-mail messages and other Web-based data?

I have read that a Wireless Router offers some protection as a "hardware
firewall."  Is that true even if "encryption" is not configured by the
Wireless Router's User? How does having a Wireless or other Routher
act as a "firewall?"

Are there Hardware Firewalls manufactured and offered on the computer
market as single items which Users would connect into their incoming
Internet signal? Are ordinary home Desktop computer users advised to buy
and deploy such a device?

A general discussion of these topics would be of interest to subscribers
whose
knowledge of these items is very limited. Thanks much.

Finally, Patrick, thank you for reminding me that the rapid and multiple
commands  John Simpson used to cure my recent "Greeter Application
crashing" trouble were readily re-callable simply by pressing the Up
Arrow key once the Command Line prompt was on the screen. I have used
that approach in the past but it never surfaced in my  mind when I sat
here trying to remember what  John had used as he worked out the "fix"
for my trouble.

William


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