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Well, an antivirus software is more like a doctor for your computer. It can diagnose and treat “diseases” (viruses, trojans, malwares, etc.) that got in your computer. Sometimes they can prevent these threats from getting into your computer, but that’s not what antivirus software is made for.

Firewall software, on the other hand, works like security guards. They keep watch to everything that on in your computer. When they see something strange or suspect there’s “something fishy” (like a virus/trojan or a hacker attack) trying to get into your computer, they will immediately “burn” them (thus, the name “firewall”).

When buying security software often times multiple items are bundled together. An antivirus, firewall, and antispyware are generally bundled and considered an “internet security suite”, to be more specific. Anyways – back to firewall software. Of course not all of the options on the market are made the same. With this being said, you want to pick the option that is best for the security of your PC. Here are some simple guidelines for you to take a look at when looking for your own internet firewall:

1.  Inbound and outbound packet filtering.

Some firewalls can only scan inbound packets while not scanning outbound ones. Trojans work by sending out sensitive information from within your computer. Because of this, scanning outbound packets is an essential part to your PC’s security.

2.  Hacker/ Brute Force Protection.

It’s not enough to secure your computer against viruses, trojans, and malwares. We also need to secure your computer from brute force attacks (sending a great number of packets to our computer as to overwhelm it). Once your computer gets overwhelmed (K.O.), a hacker can basically do anything to your it (i.e. taking away your secret files and passwords (you know what they can do with your passwords, right?)).

3.  Internal Protection.

Our computer works by utilizing numerous sensitive files and processes. These files and processes are so sensitive that they may not be changed or interrupted at any given time. Should something happen to them, your computer would be rendered useless! The best firewall software would always keep an eye on these files and processes as to keep them from being harmed and changed by anything or anyone.

4.  Ease of Use and Installation.

Not everyone is a technical genius. The best firewall options come ready to run and protect your computer right out of the box. Their default settings can be used to keep your PC protected as-is, or you can customize them if doing so seem better fit.

5.  Smart Protection.

Every day there are hundreds of new viruses, trojans, and malwares which are becoming increasingly more complex as technology advances. Firewalls, as your computer’s security guards, should be able to “learn” and “recognize” these new threats quickly and efficiently. No matter how good a firewall software is considered, if it can only stop “old and obsolete” threats, then it’s useless!

Prevention is always better than to have to cure. Stop the threats and attacks before they are given the chance of getting into your computer. Getting firewall software is always a smart move, and getting one with all of the above features is a must.

Flagging

The most important part of a firewall is its ability to flag information.  When a harmful intrusion or program is attempting to gain access to your network, your firewall will flag it.  When something is flagged, it is then noted to be an unwanted intrusion and so it will not be allowed access to your network in any form.  Some firewall software also adds the flagged material into a database so that it can be easily recognizable if any future instances occur.

Control Traffic

The way that firewalls protect our computer depends on how they control the traffic in and out of our network.  The average firewall program will use one or more of the following methods to control traffic:

1. Packet filtering: Packets are small amounts of data that are then processed through a set of filters.  If the filters allow the packets through, then they are sent to the system while all other packets are discarded.

2. Proxy service: A proxy service simply gathers information from the internet by way of the firewall and then it is sent to the users computer.

3. Stateful inspection: This method is newer and instead of examining the contents of each packet it compares some details to a preexisting database of trusted information.  If there is data in the packet that is recognized by the database of trusted information then it is let through, if not, it is discarded.

Multiple Connections

Although a firewall may seem like it is a program that only protects an independent computer, that is a common misconception.  Many firewalls can be configured to support several computers on a network which is why companies are so fond of this particular type of network protection.  Generally when this occurs, a firewall administrator will be in place and they can decide what websites the computers in the network are allowed to access.  For example, in high school a firewall or network administrator will block certain websites such as software downloading websites so that the students do not unintentionally download harmful infections to the computer.

The use of firewalls is a beneficial tool to ensure the safety and protection of your personal computer.  With the software’s unique way of detecting harmful information and preventing it from accessing your computer, they are extremely reliable.  By the use of traffic control and flagging, harmful information that has tried to access your computer in the past can be discarded without any intervention by the user and if there are new threats, they are ignored to the fullest.  Although firewalls are in-depth programs that can seem to be very complicated, the use of them is relatively simple and efficient.  To avoid all and any harmful attacks on your computer, install a firewall and they will protect your personal data and information.

Trojan Horses/Trojans

A Trojan horse, or a Trojan for short, is software that performs a certain act for the user, such as stealing information or harming someone’s computer system.  The term itself was taken from the Trojan Horse historical event.  Unlike many viruses, Trojans don’t replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive.  The most common form of Trojans are programs that promise to get rid of viruses from someone’s computer but they in fact introduce more viruses to the computer.  Once a Trojan has been installed on a computer, the hacker can use remote controls to perform various tasks and to gain access to privileged information.

Spam

The definition of spam is to use electronic messaging systems such as e-mail or instant messengers to send bulk messages without permission.  Spamming is just as harmful as it is irritating because advertisers have relatively no operating costs when they use spam as a form of marketing.  Not only does it involve a mass amount of e-mails being sent out across a contact list but they are also a way that hackers can encourage people to be victims of fraud.  Many times there will be spam e-mails that promote certain products and so when someone purchases the product using their credit card, all of their information is stolen and used against them.  The general term for someone who uses electronic spam is called a “spammer”.

Worms

Computer worms are malware computer programs that are self-replicating.  They use the computer network to send identical copies of itself to different computers on the network.  Worms differ from your average computer virus because they do not need to be a part of a program in order for them to damage a computer.  Worms usually cause some sort of damage, whether it be by consuming bandwidth or venturing through files where they do not belong.  The main way that worms get into your network is when they find a vulnerability in your operating system and so they inch their way inside of your system.  The most common way for worms to be spread is through email and so you must be wary of opening email from unknown senders that include files, attachments, or links to outside websites.

Firewalls are an essential need for anyone who owns a computer solely because of the amount of malicious entities that there are all over the internet.  From worms to Trojans to spam, there always seems to be a new way for hackers to get into computer networks and to steal personal information.  If you are attempting to avoid identity theft or attacks as equally harmful, install a firewall and ensure that it will protect your computer until it is uninstalled.

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Low Cost

Considering that many firewalls are already installed on your computer thanks to your operating system, you will generally have to pay absolutely nothing to ensure the protection of your computer.  For the computer owners that are without a firewall, you will be able to acquire a firewall for an inexpensive cost or for free, depending what company you go with.  The fact that you can get the utmost amount of protection for virtually no cost is a beneficial factor in itself.

Outside Entity Detection

The majority of firewalls offered by reputable companies not only decide what to let in and out of your computer but they can also detect harmful attacks against your data.  Most firewall software will have the ability to detect viruses, worms, trojans, or harmful data collectors.  This way you don’t have to worry about anyone trying to access your personal information.

Configuring and Reconfiguring

Another large benefit of software firewalls is that they are configurable.  Sometimes you will notice that when you visit a website it will not allow you to view certain images or videos because they come in conflict with your firewall’s parameters.  Having a configurable firewall allows you to choose what you want to view and what you don’t want to view based on your browsing habits.  That way, you can have complete freedom with what you view without having to worry about a program preventing you from doing so.  Reconfiguring is also beneficial because if you are unhappy with your original configurations, you can change them as many times as you please.  For example, if you are using the computer and you want to be able to view everything you want, you can turn your firewall off completely.  If your child then wants to browse the internet, you can turn the firewall on so that they are less likely to come across malicious entities by way of their browsing habits.

Firewalls are one of the best ways to ensure the safety of your computer and the protection of the files and data on it.  Considering that there is a large amount of malicious viruses such as worms and trojans littered all over the internet, firewalls can help you to avoid them from accessing your network.  Most computers come with a pre-installed firewall but if you find that you are without one, you should find a downloadable program.  Firewalls are completely customizable which makes them easier for use and they are also relatively low in cost if you are looking to purchase one directly from the manufacturer.  For an inexpensive cost, you can offer your network all the security that it could possibly need.

What is the Definition of a Firewall?

A firewall is a device that is used to allow or deny certain transmissions from accessing a computer based upon a certain set of rules.  The general use for a firewall is to deny unauthorized users from attempting to make communications with the computer and to filter out the good communications in order to allow them in.

Does My Computer Have a Firewall?

The majority of personal computers do have a firewall that is installed into their operating systems.  The reason for these firewalls is to protect your data from the public internet.  If you have any type of personal computer, there is a 99% likelihood that you have a firewall installed with your operating system. These basic ones however are generally not as effective as ones you can purchase from various sources online to better protect your PC.

How are Packets, Routers, and Proxy Servers Involved?

A firewall will work closely with a router program which is a program that assesses every  network packet to decide whether it should be sent to its final destination or not.  Proxy servers are also involved in the workings of firewalls because they make requests to the network on behalf of the computer user.  Proxies are a way for a computer to determine whether the user is to view a certain website or webpage.

Different Types of Firewalls

There are a large amount of firewall screening methods that are used.  Firewalls can simply screen requests to make sure that they are previously identified and legitimate by looking at the domain name and the IP addresses.  If you are using a wireless internet connection firewalls will allow remote access if you can provide secure login usernames and passwords to allow you to transmit frequencies within the internet.

Firewalls are one of the most important ways for a computer to be protected against outside threats that can be found all over the internet.  To prevent outside entities from obtaining any vital information about you or to prevent them from accessing personal files, it is essential that you have your firewall turned on while you are browsing the internet.  Firewalls work in accordance with proxy servers, network packets, and routers in order to achieve the most protection for your personal computer as possible.  The majority of mass produced computers are readily equipped with firewall software and so most of the time, computer users don’t even realize that they have a firewall at all.  To ensure that you and your family have the safest internet browsing experience, your firewall must be turned on otherwise you will be allowing people to access your personal information.