Protect Your Network with the Linux-based Untangle Gateway

In the past few months, we've discussed (among many other things) ZeroShell. Its a live CD that turns a mundane PC into a router and provides numerous servers and features for your network. Well, now we're going to discover the Untangle Network Gateway. Another open source solution, it installs onto a PC to help you protect, control, and monitor the online activities of all your small business or home computers.

Untangle provides a user-friendly solution that concentrates more on managing your Internet experience rather than provide network functionality. If desired, it could work well with and complement other open source router projects like ZeroShell, RouterOS, or DD-WRT.

Not only can the gateway replace your router by providing a DHCP server and Internet sharing, it can protect all the computers on the network from the Internet threats. Here are some of the features you'll get for free:

Web Filter controls where users can surf.
Spam Blocker catches spam at the gateway.
Virus Blocker detects threats from the Web, email and FTP.
Spyware Blocker stops Websites and files from infecting users.
Ad Blocker removes detected ADs while users are surfing.
Protocol Control lets you control peer-to-peer, port-hopping, and other traffic.
Firewall provides protection against hackers and you with more control.
Reports give you many reports on activity in PDF and HTML formats.
OpenVPN lets you securely access your network via the Internet when away.