Interesting discussion.

Can any one product keep you absolutely safe? NO. Is it worth while to have a layered defense? Absolutely! The better your perimeter and clients are protected the better off you are.

Anti-virus useless? No. Sure, someone could make a small change to a virus and it will get through. That is mostly in the case of designer viruses targeted to specific persons or businesses, and isn't much of a threat to the home user. If it is a propagated virus it will soon be added to the database.

IPS is a bit different, and can run on two different models. One is based on definitions and the other is based on learning the baseline of data going through the network. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.

It is worth while to protect yourself in many layers. This device protects you adequately, and keeps the typical user safe from many of the automated threats on the net. The only problem you really face then is stupidity, downloading and installing malware, or browsing to the wrong place. There are ways to help decrease the chances of getting into even these problems (don't follow email links, don't use IE or Outlook Express). Still, if you have configured this router correctly it can help you combat even some of these threats by monitoring your traffic.

If security at the gateway wasn't a decent way to help protect your network, then businesses wouldn't run it, would they?

And yes, I have been working with security and computers for some time. Does that mean I have been doing it wrong for some time? I doubt it, I have my MSIA, graduated with honors from an NSA center for excellence in Information Assurance.

No solution is a perfect one, but if you are smart about the way you go about using a computer, and you layer your defenses, then you can keep your network safe, even if you have kids on the network.

Oh, and I will renew. I don't worry about viruses or many other malware problems, because I don't use Windows, but I keep the services as a service to those who do.

quote:

Originally posted by blankoboy:
So if Sofaware's stance is "as is" regarding firmware upgrades and a security issue is found with a firmware in the field does this mean they will not allow non-subscribed customers to obtain a fix? If this is true I would be quite shocked.

I thought that non-subscribed owners would still be able to firm-up manually. Is this not the case?

Nope, you bought a service not just a piece of hardware... this is no different than any of the high end networking equipment vendors, (cisco/juniper/etc)..