subject: What Is A Firewall, How a Firewall Works, and Why You Must Use One [print this page] What Is A Firewall, How a Firewall Works, and Why You Must Use One
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To be sure, a firewall can be a protective barrier for your computer, which acts to shield it from threats on your local network along with the internet. My home in Hawaii, a number of us leave our doors unlocked at all times, and never have trouble.
Unfortunately this can be a really bad idea on the web - as soon as your computer is online (which for those who have broadband internet like DSL or cable, is perhaps all some time) it's like the whole planet is across the street from your "house," so unfortunately you must become in case your neighbors are common criminals, since someone in Nigeria will get in your computer in much the same way easily as someone in Captain Cook, Hawaii.
Your network or net connection (an online connection is another kind of network connection, it just connects one to the planet rather than several computers at home or office) is really put into exactly what are called "ports" -- imagine a residence with lots of many windows, some open, some closed -- many ports use a specific purpose, like port 25 which can be usually employed for sending email.
If the particular other ports are still open, that raises the ways an individual or perhaps a program (like a worm) can just stroll right in, just like in the event you leave the doors or windows open in your house.
For those who have a router (which can be a device used to share a DSL or cable connection with more than one computer, in order to build your own internet connection wireless) then there should be a firewall in the router. This is what's known as a hardware firewall (since it's part of a piece of equipment), as opposed to a software firewall, which is a program on your computer.
Some people assume that having a router with a firewall is enough to protect your computer, but while it can help, you should have a software firewall too.
Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, in addition to any version of Mac OS 10.2 and greater have a software firewall built into them. If you have Windows XP with service pack 2 installed, or any newer version of Windows, then the firewall should come turned on.
There are two general types of software firewall: you can think of them as "active" and "passive" firewalls.
In other words, a passive firewall just sort of sits there, and blocks the needed ports to keep things out and that's about it. An active firewall on the other hand, does exactly the same thing, but also sort of sits up and gives creedence to what's going on inside your computer, and gives you control over what programs can get out.
So if you have a piece of spyware on your own computer that's trying to "phone home" to report in on what information it's collected about you, the active firewall can prevent it to protect you. And the byproduct of this is you're safer.
Both the Windows XP and Mac OS X firewalls are passive.
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So if you're just using a passive firewall just as if the Windows firewall, you can fall victim of so-called malware without even realizing it.
You see, what happens is this; a piece of malware will get onto your system and usually does one of three things: either it invites more malware in, opens a "back door" for someone to come in and snoop around, or it collects information about you and sends it out to persons unknown.
An active firewall will let you control what programs can get out to the internet, not just what can get in, which is very important.
Unfortunately, the thieves are really smart, so they sneak someone inside when you're not paying attention and that person hides himself somewhere and then opens a door or window to let his buddies in, or rifles through your belongings and hands them through the window to someone outside.
If you have an active firewall, it's like a security guard is constantly patrolling inside the building, and only allows you or people you trust to use the doors and windows.
Does that make sense?
Macs are safe enough with a passive firewall, but because of the thousands of worms, viruses, spyware, etc.
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Windows users have a lot of options, just as if buying Norton Internet Security, (an "internet security" program usually includes not an antivirus but also a firewall), or using Kaspersky Internet Security.
u active firewall programs do take some configuration to block and allow the right programs.
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If you're not sure if a program is legit, the firewall usually tells you the name of the program it's asking you about, so you can type it into Google and look it up.
Chances are, if you see a lot of search results talking about viruses or adware, then you should probably prevent it and try to get it cleaned up. Mac users who want a little more security than the built-in OS X firewall program provides, can check out a program called Little Snitch. This is an active firewall program, just as if Zonealarm.
Using a firewall can be a vital part of keeping your computer, and all the files on it, secure. Don't make the mistake of running your computer without one.
you can activate the firewall and software with the key.
