6.1 Security Verizon Online DSL FAQ
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FAQ RevisionsEditors: sashwa, birdfeedr, More Fiber, kadar
Last modified on 2009-10-18 22:08:37

6.1 Security

·How do I stealth all ports on my Westell 7500 modem router
·Where can I find free security software?

How do I stealth all ports on my Westell 7500 modem router (#16117)
If you just set up your new Westell 7500 modem router provided by Verizon and run a firewall test like GRC's ShieldsUP!, you will most likely get a "fail" rating. This will be due to the fact that the default firewall setting of the modem router will allow Ping (ICMP Echo) requests to pass, and also that the FTP ports 20 and 21 are not in stealth mode. You could change the default firewall setting from "no security" to "medium", but this will close all kinds of ports that you normally use for benign applications and will force you in turn to open them up one by one in a rather cumbersome way.

Below are 2 easy steps to stealth your router without having to learn how to edit your router's IP tables manually (see here for a previous forum thread that looks complicated and ultimately didn't provide results).

WARNING: You still need to have a software-based firewall installed on your computer to give you actual protection! (I recommend the free Comodo Firewall Pro. It is highly-rated in independent tests.) Following changes are just the basic steps to "stealth" your router, the heavy protection needs to be provided by the software-based firewall.

Stealth FTP Ports 20 and 21
    1. When you have logged on to your router, click on the "Advanced" icon, then click on "ALG" which is on the bottom of the box on the far left.
    2. On the top line that says "FTP" remove the check mark from the box.
    3. Click apply, that's it!


Stop your router from replying to Ping (ICMP Echo) requests
    1. Click on "Firewall Settings".
    2. Select "Custom Security (None)" and hit "Apply".
    3. Now hit the "edit" button on the same line.
    4. Now look at the end of line 16 where it says "icmp -j".
    5. Change the j to an n so that it reads "icmp -n".
    6. Hit "Apply" and you're done!


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by saschamaj edited by sashwa
last modified: 2008-10-17 21:09:37

Where can I find free security software? (#1367)
saschamaj says, "My all-time favorite site with free and personally tested (!) security software is Gizmo's tech support alert."

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by edited by sashwa
last modified: 2008-10-17 21:24:04


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