[Leica] OT- Home wireless network question

[alal at duke.poly.edu (A. Lal)]

Hello Everyone,

A completely OT home wireless network question for the computer Gurus here, 
if I may.

We have DSL, and this past weekend I installed a wireless router with the 
intention of  setting up a home network for a second desktop and a laptop.

After installing the  router between my DSL modem and primary computer (the 
other machines have not yet been put on the wireless network) I probed my 
network with Streve Gibson's "Shields Up" utility - see GRC.com.  I use 
Zonealarm firewall - free version - on my computer and it has always given 
me a clean bill of health showing all  ports from 0 - 1056 in what it terms 
"stealth mode", i.e. not responding to external packets at all. I was 
surprised to see that after installing the wireless router, a Zyxel R-330W, 
that the most of these ports are not "stealth", but merely "closed" , a 
lower rating, and that port 53, DNS, is now open.  Note that the software 
firewall and other settings on my compuer were not changed. So my question 
is, does an open port 53 on the home network really pose a risk, and how can 
I open or close this and the other ports manually should the need arise?

Lastly, the wireless router gives several security options ranging from WPE 
to WPA2(mixed). Which is to be preferred?

TIA

Regards,
Akhil