The NetGear MR814v4 has extensive firewall and access control features, which you reach by typing http://192.168.0.1 in your Web browser, then typing in the default user name and password "admin" and "password." If you haven't already done so, change the password! Then check out the features:

Blocking Tactics

If you're a parent concerned about your kids' exposure to certain Internet sites, you'll want to turn on the NetGear's blocking capabilities. You can block specific domains, or any site with a given keyword, such as xxx or sex. You can also control access by time of day, or by specific machines on your network. If you are using this feature, be sure to create a secret administrator password, so your kids can't go in and change the settings on you!

Lost and Found

If you want to run a Web server from home, or just need to access your home machine remotely from time to time, you may have a big problem if your service provider assigns IP addresses to you dynamically. This means that your home network's IP address changes each time you connect to the Internet, so there is no consistent place to find you. To solve this problem, you can use Dynamic DNS, where you register a permanent address with a third party, like DynDNS.org, and then update the physical IP address each time you connect to the Internet. The third party then directs all traffic to your latest IP address. The NetGear MR814v2 supports Dynamic DNS, making it easy to use such services just by typing in a few settings.

Creating a DMZ

If you want to host a Web server on your network, you'll likely want to designate that machine as a "DMZ," which means it will be outside your firewall, allowing all Internet connections. The place to do this is on NetGear's WAN Setup page, which also lets you change settings like disabling the SPI (stateful packet inspection) firewall and responding to pings on the Internet port. Don't change either of these settings unless you want to severely compromise your security. Responding to pings lets hackers know you are there, and disabling the firewall leaves you wide open to attack.