The First Line of Defense
Regardless of the system you happen to be using (though I am assuming that you have become a Linux devotee by now), the first line of defense for any computer permanently hooked up to the Internet is a router—an electronic device that allows a number of computers on a local network (such as in your home or at your office) to connect to and share a single connection from your Internet service provider (ISP). While the router is connected to your modem via cable, the connection from the router to the computers on your local network can be wired, wireless, or both.
What does a router have to do with the defense of your computer? Well, most routers include a firewall, which essentially functions to keep all of the bad stuff ...
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