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Firewall Software |
| If your computer is connected to the internet then it is extremely vulnerable to attack. A very important facet of your online security is something you've undoubtedly heard of before, the firewall. A firewall is basically an instrument used to prevent unwanted intrusions of your computer by external systems, a barrier between your computer and the internet. A firewall can be either software or a piece of hardware stationed between your computer (or network) and your internet connection. Whether software or hardware the firewall is designed to filter the information that flows through your internet connection. A firewall can use one or several techniques to help protect you from intrusions. One such technique is called packet filtering. A firewall analyzes small packets of information and compares them to a set of filters. If the packet doesn't meet the filter's criteria for acceptability it is discarded. Another method of protection used by firewalls is what is known as a proxy server. A proxy server will prevent any direct traffic between your network and the internet. Any messages coming in or out must first be screened by the proxy server. Most firewalls use one or both of these techniques to protect your computer and since new methods of attack are constantly being developed, firewall technology is evolving right along with them. A firewall can be a great way to stop unauthorized entry into your computer from the outside world, preventing the nefarious from gaining access to your network and stealing valuable information or sabotaging your data. A firewall is not the be-all, end-all however. Viruses, adware, spyware, and Trojans can all find ways onto your computer by circumventing your firewall. In addition to installing a firewall, we strongly recommend that you install both anti-virus software (see our Anti-Virus Software page) and spyware detection and removal software (see our Adware and Spyware page). It is essential that you include a firewall in your overall protection strategy but finding the right one for you can be a bit overwhelming. Software-based firewalls can be less expensive, even free, but they do have their drawbacks. Malicious software can be designed to circumvent or disable firewall software. Also, software-based firewalls can potentially negatively impact your computer's performance and some can be difficult to configure. A hardware-based firewall is easier to use and is (almost always) not susceptible to malicious software attack; however, they can be more expensive than their software counterparts and they require that another piece of equipment be added to your computer system. It should be noted that current operating systems, such as Mac OS X and Windows XP, include built-in firewalls. Additionally, some motherboard manufacturers are now including firewalls. To determine the firewall that is right for you or to learn more about firewalls in general, perform an online search or check out the following links:
Firewall Software Review A review site listing ten popular
personal firewall software products, including prices and purchasing links. If a link on this page needs to corrected or updated, or if you know of a valuable resource that we should add, please let us know. |
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