Have you ever considered what other people on the internet could possibly be doing or seeing on your computer right now? Cyber crimes are becoming quite common, if not more common, than regular crimes we hear about every day. Computer hackers continue to become more and more sophisticated, and they pose a very serious threat to the security of your computer systems, especially while you're connected to the internet. Any device attached to the internet can potentially be accessible to others on the internet. The best solution to this problem is called a firewall.
A firewall is a device, either software or hardware-based, that acts as a filter for all data passing to and from your computer. If you have a permanent connection to the internet, such as DSL, Cable, T-1, etc, a firewall of some type is absolutely essential. The reason is this: IP Addresses.
IP addresses are the internet’s way of knowing where to find computers, like a street address is for your home. Then, to break things down another level, ports are used to differentiate the type of traffic being transmitted across the internet. These can be compared to doors and windows on your home, located at your particular address. For instance, a typical web site accepts connections on port 80, while outgoing e-mail will use port 25. The use of ports allows the traffic on the internet to be filtered, so a user can allow only certain types of traffic to pass through, to and from, their system. This is where a firewall comes in. Firewalls can be configured to block any port that is not needed by the user. Numerous ports are used by the operating system of your computer to communicate with other computers, but hackers often use these ports to send harmful requests to your computer, or to possibly gain access to it. Using a firewall can eliminate any unwanted access, and is a small price to pay for the security of your computers. Think of it as adding good, quality locks to your home’s doors and windows.
You may see profane messages appear on your screen. Many such messages can be blocked using a firewall. Many viruses can also be blocked by a firewall because many viruses are configured to infect your system using open ports on your computer. Blocking all traffic that you did not specifically request makes your computer invisible to the rest of the internet.
There are hundreds of firewall solutions available, and there’s at least one made for every potential situation. Taking the time to determine your internet access and protection needs will be time well spent. You don’t leave your front door open when you leave the house in the morning, and a computer without a firewall is like a house with all the doors and windows left wide open.
