Question : In a wired/wireless combination router, using the wired ethernet connection provide a hardware firewall?
To ask another way: How does and where does the hardware firewall protection come into play? If I run a wired ethernet cable from the desktop computer to the wireless router’s wired ethernet connection, is that computer’s firewall protected or not? Are the hardware firewalls only available on the wireless routers? …available only in wired routers?… or are hardware firewalls available on wireless AND wired routers? Thank you!
hardware firewall

Best answer:

Answer by Scott
It’s not a “hardware firewall.” The firewall is part of the firmware incorporated into the router. Basically, any computer connected behind the router would be using the router’s firewall to protect it from computers on the other side of the router.

It doesn’t matter whether the computer is connected to one of the routers Lan ports or via wireless. However, any computer connected behind the router MAY have the ability to connect to other computers behind the router. That is why you need to be sure to setup the wireless security on your router. If the security is disabled or easily cracked, someone can connect to your router via the wireless. Then, the only thing protecting your computers is the individual computers security.