Wireless Router Guide

After getting started and comparative reviews, this page has links to articles on wireless security, networking utility and security software, and wireless router vendors and product reviews. For information on and tools for wireless hot spots, see our Mobile Security page.

Security -- Wireless routers are not as secure as hard wired. If you want wireless and security, read the security articles on this page and be prepared to spend some time setting up the security features of your wireless network. To make this easier, look at wireless utility software.

Testing -- We recommend that you test the firewall features of a wireless router after installation and setup using an online service like Security Space.

Firmware -- Router vendors offer updates for their firmware to add new features and to resolve problems found by their customers. After installing a new router, check for updates.

Prices -- See our custom Wireless Firewall Router Price List powered by Amazon.com

Getting Started

• The Specs That Matter [and the Specs That Don't], Darren Gladstone, PC World, August 25, 2008 -- Networking Equipment
• Build a Future-Proof Home Network, Eric Griffith and Oliver Rist, PC Magazine, July 22, 2008
• How to Buy Home Networking Products, Yardena Arar, PC World, July 9 2008
• 12 Downloads to Make Your Wi-Fi Life Easier and Fun, Preston Gralla, PC World, May 19, 2008
• Home Networking 101, Oliver Rist, PC Magazine, May 6, 2008
• How to Improve Your Home Wi-Fi Network, Eric Griffith, PC Magazine, May 2, 2008
• New Wi-Fi Technology Maturing While Other Networking Options Emerge, Edward Albro, PC World, January 8, 2008
• Draft-N Doesn't Play Nice and Is Draft-n Ready? Oliver Rist, PC Magazine, January 7/8, 2008

Comparative Reviews

• Cheap Wireless Routers, Oliver Rist, PC Magazine, June 18, 2008 -- Linksys, Netgear, SMC & Trendnet
• Dual-Band Routers, Oliver Rist, PC Magazine, June 3, 2008 -- Apple, D-Link, Linksys & Netgear
• Wireless Router Reviews, Consumer Search, updated June 2008, a summary of 26 reviews of 37 products -- D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router, ConsumerSearch.com, best wireless router overall, TRENDnet TEW-631BRP 300Mbps Wireless N-Draft Router -- Best value wireless router, Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster -- Best basic router
• New 802.11n Routers: The Best Wi-Fi Yet, Becky Waring & Elliott Kirschling, PC World, April 29, 2008 -- Apple, Belkin, D-Link, Linksys, Netgear
• Cheap Draft 802.11n Router Roundup, Tim Higgins, SmallNetBuilder, April 11, 2008 -- Belkin, D-Link, Linksys & Trendnet
• Speed 'n' distance [wireless routers], Greg Crowe, GCN, March 31, 2008 -- Belkin, Linksys, Netgear, SMC
• Draft-n wireless routers, Jim Martin, PC Authority, March 2008 -- Belkin, Buffalo, D-link, Linksys, Netgear, Trendnet & Zyxel

Wireless Security

• Malware Silently Alters Wireless Router Settings, Brian Krebs, Security Fix, Washington Post, June 11, 2008
• WPA Security Tips, Aaron Weiss, eSecurityPlanet, April 11, 2008
• RSA Conference: Web Page Can Take Over Your Router, Robert McMillan, IDG News Service, PC World, April 7, 2008
• Secure Your Home Wireless Network for Free, Joel Durham, ExtremeTech, January 15, 2008
• The easy way to avoid a Wi-Fi virus, Rik Fairlie, ZDNet, January 4, 2008
• Beyond WEP: Beef Up Your Wi-Fi Security, John Brandon, PC Magazine, September 12, 2007
• The Woes of WiFi, Part 1: Insecure by Default, Jack Germain, TechNewsWorld, August 11, 2007
• Beginners Guides: Securing A Wireless Network, PCStats, July 30, 2007
• 35 easy fixes for network problems: Speed up transfers, Becky Waring, PC World Canada, March 28, 2007
• Flying under the radar, Dwight Silverman, Houston Chronicle, May 21, 2007
• Say No to WEP, And Yes to WPA, Joseph Moran, Wi-FiPlanet, April 18, 2007
• How to Secure Your Wireless Network, Becky Waring, PC World, April 9, 2007
• Seven Steps to Safer WiFi, Kelly Higgins, Dark Reading, March 14, 2007
• How To Secure Your Home Wireless Network: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5, Jim Doherty & Neil Anderson, CMP & Information Week, February 7, 9, 12, 14 & 21, 2007
• How I survived configuring and securing a wireless LAN - Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3, Robert Mitchell, ComputerWorld, February 1, 9 & 20  2007
• I hacked my secure wireless network: here's how it's done, George Gardner, Tech.Blorge, February 6, 2007

Networking Utility and Security Software

• SingleClick Systems HomeNet Manager
  • HomeNet Manager 3.0, Joseph Moran, Practically Networked, August 10, 2006
• JumpStart for Wireless, Atheros Communications
• McAfee Wireless Security 2006, (formerly WSC Guard from the Wireless Security Corporation)
  • McAfee Wireless Home Network Security 2006, Tony Bradley, netsecurity.about.com
• NetTrooper, Sereniti
  • Practically Networked review, Joseph Moran, March 14, 2007
• Network Magic
  • Network Magic Pro v4.7, Oliver Rist, PC Magazine, June 3, 2008
  • Network Magic 4.1, Robert Lipschutz, PC Magazine, February 21, 2007
  • Network Magic 4, Joseph Moran, Wi-Fi Planet, February 16, 2007
• Packet Protector is a Linux distribution for wireless routers, built on top of OpenWrt. The goal of the project is to transform a router into a unified threat management device.
• WiTopia.net SecureMyWiFi
  • WiTopia.net SecureMyWiFi, Joe Moran, Practically Networked, June 28, 2005

Wireless Routers

D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router DIR-655 -- Supports WEP™, WPA™, and WPA2™ encryption security standards and utilizes dual SPI and NAT firewalls.

• D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router, ConsumerSearch.com, best wireless router overall, June 2008
• D-Link RangeBooster N 650 DIR-655, Jim Martin, PC Authority Labs Winner, February 29, 2008
• D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router:Draft 2.0 arrives [recommended], Tim Higgins, SmallNetBuilder, July 09, 2007
• CNet review, Matthew Wood, April 30, 2007
• PC Magazine review [editor's choice], Robert Lipschutz, April 10, 2007
• Practically Networked review [recommended], Craig Ellison, March 26, 2007

Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link WRT600N -- Supports WEP™, WPA™, and WPA2™ encryption with 256-bit encryption, serve as your network's DHCP Server, includes an SPI firewall, and supports VPN pass-through.

• PC World review, superior product, Becky Waring, April 30, 2008
• PC Magazine review, editor's choice, Oliver Rist, December 17, 2007
• Linksys WRT600N Review: Dual-Band 11n comes to Linky-land, Tim Higgins, SmallNetBuilder, October 31, 2007

SMC SMCWGBR14-N Barricade N router -- NAT firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), WPA/WPA2 Encryption, and Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS).

• PC Magazine review, Oliver Rist, May 21, 2008
• CNet review, editor's choice, Dong Ngo, March 13, 2008

Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Router -- Wi-Fi Protected Setup; WPA, WPA2-Personal, 64-bit/128-bit encryption, and Multiple SSID.

• Belkin N1 GCN Lab Reviewer's Choice, Greg Crowe, March 31, 2008
• Legacy-friendly Draft 11n: Belkin N1 Vision Reviewed, Tim Higgins, SmallNetBuilder, December 6, 2007

DSL/Cable Modem & Wireless Router Combo Units

D-Link DSL-2640B ADSL2/2+ Modem/Wireless Router 4-Port Switch includes SPI and NAT firewalls plus WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption.

Linksys Wireless-G Cable Gateway Cable Modem with Built-In Wireless-G Router WCG200: SPI and NAT firewalls, WPA encryption includes parental control features like Internet access time limits and key word blocking.

NetGear DG834G Wireless ADSL Firewall Router (54 Mbps) includes SPI and NAT firewalls, WEP, WPA, WPA2, VPN, intrusion logging and reporting, denial-service (DoS) protection.

• Thinkbroadband review, Andrew Ferguson, August 3, 2004
• ZDNet UK review, Roger Gann, May 20, 2004

Resource Sites

• Practically Networked
• SmallNetBuilder
• Wi-Fi Planet