User's Guide

44
Security Basics
Review the basics
Just connecting your computer to GlobeSurfer III+ provides a basic level of protection because it
supports Network Address Translation (NAT).
Network Address Translation
Your GlobeSurfer III+ supports NAT. This network service makes it possible for all of the computers in
your network to share a single IP address. This IP address is assigned to your GlobeSurfer III+ and is the
only address that is visible to the outside world. The private addresses that the GlobeSurfer III+ DHCP
assigns to computers in your network remain private and cannot be reached from the Internet.
Determine the wireless exposure
If you live in a rural area far away from your neighbor, the likelihood that someone will break into your
wireless network is very low. On the other hand, if you live in a densely populated area in the city next
to an office building, there is a potential danger that a third party may try to access your WLAN.
Based on your own security needs, decide which security settings you want to implement:
 Change SSID
 Disable SSID broadcast
 Enable WPA, or WPA2 encryption. WEP is still available but not now recommended.
These settings are available from the ‘Quick Setup’ page of your GlobeSurfer III+. Each computer to be
connected to your WLAN must use the same settings.
Furthermore, you can enable MAC filtering on GlobeSurfer III+. MAC filtering can be used to grant or
deny WLAN computers in your network access to GlobeSurfer III+ based on the MAC address of the
computer. For further information see ‘MAC Filtering’, on page 46.
Firewall
Your GlobeSurfer III+ has a true firewall that uses rules to control the incoming and outgoing data
traffic. The firewall has three pre-defined levels of security. The default, ‘typical security’, blocks traffic
initiated by an external (Internet) source, and allows traffic initiated from the local network.