Verizon Internet - why do I need a router?

Question

I have Verizon FIOS as my Internet provider. My Internet speed is really slow and sometimes doesn't work at all. I called to let them know, and they told me that since my upload numbers were so low, it was probably the router. They suggested I bypass the router and plug directly into the computer and they would send me a new router.

Now things are working perfectly, and my connection is faster than ever. My question is, do I need this stupid router? I have no other computers hooked up to the system, and I don't have FIOS TV service. What's the point of the router if there's nothing else going on in the house? Thanks for the advice!

Okay, several answers say it's for security, which is fine. But if I already have a firewall and virus protection, do I need the router, too? I don't have anything against the router, but I figure if it's working so well without it, why mess with things...thanks again!

Answer 1

the security aspect comes a feature running on the router called Network Address Translation in conjunction with a stateful firewall.

When you don't have the router there, your PC is sitting directly on the Internet. There are numerous hackers on the Internet that probe IP address ranges all the time. They are looking for addresses that respond to a ping, then they probe that address to see if they can hack into whatever is hosting that IP address. On my home router, if I look at the security log I see these attempts happening all the time - like multiple times daily.

What NAT does is hide your PC's IP address from the Internet. The only address a hacker can see is the "public" address on the router, they can't see your PC's address (or any other PCs you may add in the future).

What the firewall does is only allow inbound traffic for sessions that were originated from the "private" side of the the router. A session is like you going to a www page. The firewall sees that you attempted an HTTP GET to a particular address - so it allows that return stream of data. It blocks unsolicited attempts to access your private network.

The router supplies that little extra something-something that keeps you safe. NAT is very difficult to get past for a hacker. You would have enable something called port address translation to get past a NAT.

NAT is not something your security software on your PC runs.

I run both the hardware (router) firewall and the PC security software firewall. What I'm looking for on the PC based firewall is if some application unknown to me is attempting to access the Internet. Malware bots are an example when this is useful, these are little bits of code that you pick up like a virus then the hacker uses your PC to attack someone else on the Internet - that is another issue that happens ALL the time.

Answer 2

A router is necessary only one you have more than one piece of hardware requiring an ip address. If you have only one computer, or in general one piece of hardware that requires an ip address, then you do not need a router. Your internet provider gives you 1 ip address. A router will use that ip address and assign other ip address to the various pieces of hardware to which it is connected. It will then route the information requested by any particular computer back to that computer. In addition to routing information to the correct piece of hardware, routers can also serve a variety of other functions. Most, if not all, of these functions are available through your internet provider or within your OS.

Answer 3

As a Stand alone computer you don't need a router, but a router adds another layer of security your network.

Answer 4

The router is a hardware fire wall. It prevents other computers on the Internet from gaining access to you PC while it is online.

Answer 5

You don't necessarily need a router to get Verizon service, if you're willing to pay the big buck... http://www.verizonwireless.com/builtin

Answer 6

the relationship between the source, and your place must be broken, or vulnerable because of the fact of a downed transmission line. wood might have fallen on the line and severed it. Or it ought to have been broken underground by using equipment digging around the line. i might have an engineer verify the microwave station (if any). Or a technician to examine the transmission cable from the source on your place. a sparkling line might might desire to be put in. Or the wiring interior your place must be broken. you will possibly desire to ask for a technician or engineer to examine all the cables and connectors from the source on your place.