Internet security

All routers include Network Address Translation (NAT), a basic form of firewall. From the Internet side, the router is visible, but generally protected from hackers, though some routers have been hacked. Computers inside the router are invisible to the outside world.

Linksys adds integration with ZoneAlarm Pro for true Firewall functionality and PC-Cillin for antivirus protection as well. However, NAT should provide sufficient protection for most users.

If you're planning on working from home and accessing files at work, then you'll probably use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Check with your network administrator to determine the protocol they use, since not all routers support all the standards. IPSec is the most popular version, but others exist, so make sure before you buy.

Certain applications require specific ports to connect to servers on the Internet, particularly games. Most routers can be configured to open specific ports for those applications, but make sure the capability exists.

Wireless security

Most routers use two methods of wireless protection: Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and MAC filtering.

WEP encrypts the data over the air and restricts access to a network, but a serious hacker can easily defeat it regardless of the key size. Still, many will recommend enabling WEP to protect against the casual hacker.

WEP tends to negatively affect wireless performance (up to 50 percent in some cases). Never transmit sensitive email or personal information over the air unsecured. Use secured Internet sites or VPN to provide the security missing in WEP.

TechTV Lab Rats rely on MAC filtering to protect our home networks. Most routers with MAC filtering only allow computers with known MAC addresses to access the network. Linksys is the exception. It blocks known MAC addresses and allows unknown addresses. Managing a small network is much easier if only known addresses are allowed. Actiontec doesn't offer the feature.

I know that's a lot of information. Here's a quick roundup of everything:

Router	Netgear 802.11b Wireless Router MR314	Belkin Wireless Cable/DSL Router	Actiontec Wireless-Ready Cable/DSL Router	Linksys Wireless Access Point Router BEFW11S4	D-Link AirPlus Router DI-614+	Apple AirPort 2
Supported WAN Standards	PPPoE, Static, Dynamic, PPTP,TAS	PPPoE, Static, Dynamic, TAS	PPPoE, Static, Dynamic, AOL	PPPoE, Static, Dynamic, PPTP, RAS	PPPoE, Static, Dynamic, PPTP, RAS	PPPoE, Static, Dynamic, AOL (Dialup)
Security	MAC, NAT	MAC, NAT	NAT	NAT, ZoneAlarm Pro	MAC, NAT	MAC, NAT
WEP Encryption	40/64/128 bit	64/128	64/128	64/128	64/128/256	40/64/128
VPN Support	IPSec, PPTP	IPSec	IPSec, PPTP, L2TP	IPSec, PPTP	IPSec, PPTP, L2TP	IPSec, PPTP, L2TP
Wired Ports	4	3	1	4	4	4