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Message: <blockquote data-quote="reanjr" data-source="post: 3108541" data-attributes="member: 20740">Despite the fact that they should all work together, Linksys routers can have problems with Netgear cards, which can also have problems with X routers, which have problems with Y cards, etc.If you've got preinstalled cards, shouldn't be too big a deal as they're probably Intel (unless you have AMD processors).Linksys and Netgear are both good products overall.  If possible test your cards out with a router before you buy.  Also, make sure you buy from somewhere that will let you return it with no hassle if problems crop up 2 months down the line (Best Buy can be a good choice).Also, if you have problems, play with the channel.  There will be a bunch of options but there are only three that make any difference: highest channel, lowest channel, and right in the middle.As for security, the brand doesn't really matter, but some might be easier to set up properly.  Use WPA2 encryption (make sure the cards and router support this, degrade in order to WPA, then WEP).  Don't broadcast.  Use MAC address filtering (each card will have a MAC address, tell your router to only accept the two MAC addresses of your cards and nothing else).  Don't put anything in DMZ.  Only do port forwarding (sometimes called applications or gaming in router configs) if you understand why you are doing it.  Always ensure you are using an SSL encrypted site when sending sensitive info across the internet.To be completely honest, you COULD leave your router wide open and just follow that last bit of advice and you'd be protected from eavesdropping.  What you wouldn't be protected against is attacks on your machine from random passersby jumping on your LAN.If you need further information about any of the acronyms I've talked about, just check out Wikipedia.  They have good overviews of wireless security.  Your specific implementation will vary depending on which brand you go with, but understanding the basics will let you understand how to configure almost any consumer-grade router.</blockquote>

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