OK..if the pismo can't get on, I can deal. My wife's HP Pavilion (XP) Can, so my imperitive is making sure that only she can get on; that everyone else will be denied for want of the correct password.

Re: shutting off the firewall to administer the router..I mean is it bad to shut off the firewall for even the few moments it takes to adjust the router's settings?

...bad in the sense that I'm vulnerable for those few moments until I turn the firewall back on...

a

Try to not be too paranoid, OK? :D

You would not be browsing the internet, or doing anything else while you are changing your browser settings, would you?
As you have to go to a basic connection while you change your settings, and the internet connection is disconnected when the router restarts with the new settings - you do what you have to do.

Think of it as similar to getting a delivery at your house, which requires taking the fence down in your back yard because it's the only access to your basement door. You leave the fence down, until the task is complete, then you put the fence back up. Yes, your house is less secure, but it's part of the job - and, last step, the fence is back up - you would keep a watchful eye on the activities. Same with your internet, and you can curtail what you do while the changes are in progress. As I said, you won't be browsing while you make changes to your internet connection - doesn't make sense, does it?
When you're done making changes, the firewall goes back up.

heh..ok..I'll try not to be too paranoid!

;-)


but, is it common to have to shut off the firewall to access a router's internal page for adjusting settings?

your delivery analogy was nice, DeltaMac...point taken.

a

If the router required you to shut down the firewall first, and didn't give you any choice in the task, then there you are...
Or, your OS X firewall could have an exception to allow the router's address, and that would take care of that little question, too.

ok the second part is intriguing...is that something I can tell the firewall to allow? and if so, is it a security weakness that others could exploit?

a

I am about to delete the motel location, but the numbers shown are:

IP: 172.17.145.235
subnet: 255.255.255.0
Router: 172.17.1.1
DNS: 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.5

nothing but the subnet mask resemble what's here at this location.

thanks!

a