I recently bought a new Imac. Do I have to set up a wireless router or can my other devices connect thru the WIFI built into the Imac??

Question

I recently bought a new Imac.  Do I have to set up a wireless router or can my other devices connect thru the Wifi built into the Imac??

Answer 1

jason1074 wrote:
I recently bought a new Imac.  Do I have to set up a wireless router or can my other devices connect thru the Wifi built into the Imac??
For the Internet, you should set up a router on your modem, this router will route the packets to any device on the local area network.
If you use the iMac as a router, like if you connect the Ethernet cable from your modem to the iMac, then broadcast a Wifi signal, the iMac will have to remain on all the time, at full power. Thus drastically shortening it's lifespand.
A router is only about $100 or so, offers much better security as it's like a large guard, someone has to hack through router first to get your iMac or other devices.
If it breaks, you buy another 5 years later for another $100, so your not placing all that always on wear and tear on your expensive iMac.
Apple's airport routers are pretty good, easy to set up and have automatic firmware updates, plus music sharing etc.
Set up properly you will be very secure
WiFi security issues, at home and WiFi hotspots