Seperating work and personal computing traffic on 1 router, Help!

[91civicZC]

Looking for computer help, as I know NOTHING about how on line traffic works.

Basic run down, I work from home some of the time. I have a work computer, a home computer, 2 lap tops and 2 consoles, and I have service with Shaw. The home computer and the work computer are connected directly to the router, while the lap tops and the consoles are connected wirelessly to the same router.

My work wants to connect me through the router I have to their own network. This would give them admin control over my work computer. They are asking me for the password for my router.

My question is this. As I’m not really keen on letting them see all the traffic that runs through this router, being that all my home computing and consoles run through it as well, I assume if I give them them access to that router, they will have access to all the internet traffic that goes in and out of my house on a daily basis.

Is there a way to run two routers to give them access ONLY to the work computer, or a way to continue to run only the one router and give them access to only 1 computers traffic?

Please really dumb down your answers for me, I have very little knowledge when it comes to this topic.

Thanks!

[tiger_handheld]

Routers keep logs (ie. urls , ips etc) ??
never knew that.

[FerrariEnzo]

you can use something like RealVNC.
This programs allows admins to remotely take control over connected computers and nothing else. Or does your work have their own?

[91civicZC]

I would assume they do, maybe Im wrong?

Does giving the company I work for remote access to my router allow them to see all traffic? Would hooking me up to "their network" remotly slow down my traffic, say running on line games and such on my consoles?

Lots of questions here I know, any help is apreciated!

[91civicZC]

Its not really about giving them remote access tot he computer, we do that from time to time for certain things already with a program they have, or just through messenger.

The issue is they want me to have access to some of the drives and such on their own network, which would be good but not really a total necessity. This apparently would also give them admin control over this computer. All of that is fine.

What Im concerned about is them first being able to see all traffic running through the router, and two if it would slow down my regular traffic because its running through their network. Maybe I am confused about how all this works, not sure. But my impression is that by giving them access to this router remotely, all of my traffic (websites, torrents, consoles, etc) suddenly becomes something they can see and possibly view or control. Am I wrong and this isn’t the case?


EDIT:Maybe a better question and an easier one to answer is, if I give my work my router password, what will they have the ability to see and do?

[tiger_handheld]

I also work from home and use Logmein Hamachi to access the work network/drives. I'm able to remote desktop into our server but they cannot remote into my laptop unless I sit here and give them the 'ok'. Since it's a software solution, they dont have access to my traffic records (if it's kept on the router). If I'm downloading a game on xbox - it does slow the connection between work and me.

maybe that helps.

[InvisibleSoul]

Originally Posted by 91civicZC

My work wants to connect me through the router I have to their own network. This would give them admin control over my work computer. They are asking me for the password for my router.

I have no idea what's happening here.

Ultimately, is the main goal to allow people at work to access your computer remotely?

If so, can use something like TeamViewer. Don't have to open ports on the router or anything.

I have no idea why they are requesting access to your router, unless they just want to go in there to add some port forwarding rules or something.

[91civicZC]

Invisible soul, ill try to keep it short.

My work built me a computer and sent it over to me. I use it along with a VOIP phone when working from home, which is much of the time. Our “head tech” guy cant seem to remember the admin name or password to this computer, which means I can update things like messenger or any other program. That’s how this started.

The tech guy called me today and told me he would probably be able to get “admin” access to this computer by getting the computer connected to the network they are on. To do this, he would want my router address and password. This would also give me access to diffrent drives and files they have setup on the network at the main offices.

My concern is that all of my computers and consoles run off this same router. I would assume by giving him this information, I am giving him access to see all the traffic on all of my computers, not just my work one, as well I am concerned about how this will effect my speeds.

Again, maybe I misunderstand what giving them my router address and password will allow them to access?

[Presto]

Shouldn't your work be providing VPN software? That'll connect the work computer to their LAN, and that should be all they need to administrate your work computer, since it'll be on their network, over the VPN.

[lilaznviper]

I believe what the tech wants to do is see if he can do a site to site VPN on your router to connect to the workplace. This is because you have no admin control so that you can't install VPN software to VPN in.
But i don't see a way how he can get the admin password from this... best is to just send the computer back and get it fixed before sending it back.

[InvisibleSoul]

Originally Posted by 91civicZC

The tech guy called me today and told me he would probably be able to get “admin” access to this computer by getting the computer connected to the network they are on. To do this, he would want my router address and password. This would also give me access to diffrent drives and files they have setup on the network at the main offices.

That doesn't make any sense to me.

The only way they would be able to connect your router to the office network is with site-to-site VPN, but most home routers don't even support this, so I would be surprised this is the solution he would be attempting first.

For admin access to your computer, there are many different ways of accomplishing this. Some, like VNC, may require forwarding of ports on your router. However, others like TeamViewer, do not require any changes on the router.

If you need to access resources on your office network, then that's another issue altogether. As lilaznviper said, they should have a client-server VPN in place where you would just need to install software on your computer, or maybe even web-based access.

[91civicZC]

Thanks guys.

Ill do a little more grilling of him and see what info he can give me. I’m just really not comfortable with my router password being out in the "wild" per say.

Thanks again, Ill post up more after I dig a little further.

[Anjew]

just buy a switch and another router(cheapo 20dollar router will do) and run TWO networks.

a cheapo trendnet switch AND wifi N router will set you back 30dollars + tax. imo thats cheap for your peace of mind.

[Anjew]

TRENDnet TEW-711BR Wireless N Router 802.11B/G/N 150Mbps 4 Port 10/100 - TRENDnet - TEW-711BR $14.99 CAD

Trendnet TE100-S80G GREENnet 8 Port 10/100MBPS Switch - TRENDnet - TE100-S80G $14.99 CAD

[TOPEC]

Originally Posted by Anjew

just buy a switch and another router(cheapo 20dollar router will do) and run TWO networks.

a cheapo trendnet switch AND wifi N router will set you back 30dollars + tax. imo thats cheap for your peace of mind.

this would work, i believe shaw still gives 2 ip address? so use the switch after the modem, then hook up the routers to the switch to get 2 different addresses. 1 for home, 1 for work, open what ever necessary ports needed on work router and ur admin should have access to ur work computer on it with the right info

[fsy82]

Originally Posted by TOPEC

this would work, i believe shaw still gives 2 ip address? so use the switch after the modem, then hook up the routers to the switch to get 2 different addresses. 1 for home, 1 for work, open what ever necessary ports needed on work router and ur admin should have access to ur work computer on it with the right info

Yep thats what we have at our office currently. It works like a charm.

[!MiKrofT]

Yup the switch and extra router would be the ideal solution if this is going to be a permanent solution.

I simply have my voip phone and laptop from work connected to my router. I use VPN like most of the guys here.