[G4] Firewall - Hub Question

[J J]

[G4] Firewall

Q Does a hub also function as a firewall?

A No it does not. A hub sends all info through to 
all connected devices and allows the device to 
accept or ignore packets. A hub also does not mask 
your IP#.

A router with built in firewall and switch send 
only to the device requested by the packet and 
with firewall only on the ports it is allowed to. 
So unsolicited calls are not forwarded to any 
device-they stop at the router because they are 
not addressed for a specific device. Your machines 
IP# is masked from anyone outside your network. 
All they can see is the router IP#. This is why so 
many people with DSL connections use routers (only 
one IP# visable to your provider) as most ISPs 
prohibit multi-connections on one account.

jj