What Is a Router? What Can it Do and Why Do I Need One

There are a lot of network devices that control information flow over and across different networks. However, the most important device of all of them is the router.

A router is a hardware device that handles the flow of information (packets) as they travel out of one network and into another. Most modern routers meant for home networking use actually serve multiple purposes.

What Is a Router?

A full-featured, modern router will:

• 1. Transfer internet traffic from a modem over to your separate home network
• 2. A built-in switch creates your internal home network and manages its traffic
• 3. An internal firewall will filter out malicious attacks from the internet
• 4. Many routers also include parental controls for limiting internet access from your home
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In other words, a router that is truly just a “router” will take traffic from one network, apply all firewall and network rules you’ve configured, and then filter that traffic to another network.

However, modern routers are usually multiple devices in one — a router, firewall, switch, and sometimes also a modem.

Things You Can Do With a Router

In a typical home network scenario, the router is either purchased as a two-in-one box which includes the cable modem. The incoming cable from the wall (activated by the cable company) is inserted into the coaxial port on the back of the modem-router. In the router-only scenario, the coaxial cable goes into the modem. Then a network wire is connected from the modem to the router. This is the main internet connection.

In either case, the router provides the internal home network via several network ports on the back of the device. Once you plug devices into the router and assuming your cable company has already enabled your internet service, those devices will have access to the internet.

If you’ve purchased a wireless router, you don’t even need to plug into the router with a physical network wire. You can simply connect to the wireless network that the router created for your home network.

And if you want to easily get Netflix over to your Roku in the bedroom, you want a Wi-Fi router. In fact, virtually all modern routers for consumers on the market include Wi-Fi networking.

Configure a Firewall
One of the most important features of any router is the fact that they come with an embedded firewall. These firewalls have improved over time, and modern routers are very effective at filtering out hackers that roam the internet with port-scanners and other tools looking for vulnerable devices connected to the internet.

Under your WAN Setup (for most routers) you’ll see the firewall settings. On some routers, you can configure firewall details, but in others, you simply need to ensure that Firewall Protection is enabled.

Usually, you can at least harden the security by adding additional blocking features like turning off ping response and enabling things like Denial of Service (DoS) protection.

It’s always a good idea to scan through the firewall settings of your new router to ensure that the security settings are set at a level that you’re comfortable with.

Block Applications and Services
Routers also give you the ability to customize what services and applications can communicate through your internet connection.

You’ll find this under the Security section, in the Block Services menu. Here, you’ll see you can completely block specific protocols like FTP, IRC, or even specific games like Age of Empire.

This is especially useful if you have children on your home network who play games that you don’t want them playing online. Blocking the application will prevent those applications from accessing the internet. Your kids will still be able to play the games offline, but they won’t be able to consume all of your internet bandwidth.