Are There Any Security Risks to Hooking Up Xbox Live Through My Router?

My son wants to start playing xbox live, and before I set that up for him I want to see if there are any security risks associated with it. I have my own router which will be plugged into the xbox, and it won't be through our wireless network but is it possible for hackers to access our home network? Thanks!!!

Suggestion:

There are no inherent risks with connecting your Xbox into the router. The risks come into play when gamers get frustrated with failed connections to Live and open up the settings in the router, either by setting up a DMZ incorrectly, setting up NAT incorrectly, or port forwarding errors.

Setting up your router correctly is seen by many as very confusing or difficult because so many of the terms used are unfamiliar to them. Don't let that happen to you. Microsoft provides a very good guide for this at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908874

Wired is more secure than wireless. If you have a separate router on a different network than your wireless, that is more secure (not necessary, though). If you choose to go the DMZ route, please make sure ONLY the Xbox's IP address is in that DMZ. Setting up a DMZ requires your Xbox to have a static IP address.

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