Firewalla Orange 4 / 5 Very good ZDNET's key takeaways A compact, easy-to-use firewall/router
Can be powered through USB-C, so it's highly portable
The hardware isn't cheap, but it's worth it. View now at Firewalla
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I've been working with computer networks for over 30 years (yep, three whole decades; sheesh, where did the time go?), and I know my TCP/IP from my UDP, and my NAT from my VLAN. But the thing is, when it comes to my home network, I do the absolute bare minimum.
Seriously, the last router I installed was plugged in, had its Wi-Fi password set, and that was it. Ever since that day-one setup, the router has been sitting there on the sidelines, quietly doing its thing.
Also: I stuck this power station in a freezer to test its subzero claims - here's how it held up
I know I should go through the settings to make sure everything is OK, but I don't. It's too much of a hassle, and most domestic networking hardware is so fragile and flaky that it's easy to break things. And who's got time for that stuff? Not this guy, that's for sure.
However, this gap is where Firewalla comes into play. This company makes firewall hardware that's so easy to use that everyone, from grizzled professionals to total networking newbies, can take control of their network.
I see a lot of people referring to Firewalla hardware as a firewall or security tool, and while that's correct, it also offers so much more. Think of the tech as having your very own personal network administrator, making even complex networking tasks as simple as flicking a virtual switch.
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