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Tips & Tricks
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January's Tip
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| Personal Firewall |
A personal firewall is the
most important first line of defense for computer security. It's a
piece of software or hardware that creates a protective barrier
between your computer and potentially harmful content on the
Internet. Think of it as a wall around your computer--a wall that
lets only approved traffic through. It helps keep hackers out, and
stops the spread of many computer viruses and worms.
How a Firewall Works
A firewall is hardware, software, or
a combination of both that is used to prevent unauthorized
programs or Internet users from accessing a private network. All
information entering or leaving the network must pass through the
firewall, which examines the information packets and blocks those
that do not meet the security criteria. A personal firewall
performs these functions for a single computer--and usually as a
software program, as opposed to a hardware device.
A personal firewall protects in a variety of ways, which can be
summarized into three categories of firewall rules:
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Allow: The Personal Firewall Allows some traffic to flow. This is
usually traffic that is known to be "safe", usually because you
have defined it, application by application, to be "safe."
Examples of traffic normally classified as safe include Outlook,
Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Outlook Express, and other
common networking and communications software.
· Block: The Personal
Firewall Blocks some traffic. This is usually traffic that is
known to be problematic or dangerous to your computer.
Ask: The Personal Firewall Asks whether
incoming and outgoing traffic is allowed to access your computer
or an organization's network resources. When you run the Firewall,
it initially asks you whether to permit your applications to
access network resources. Optionally, it remembers your responses,
so that you do not have to tell it again, for example, that you
plan to use Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
By using firewall rules, the Personal
Firewall can systematically Allow, Block, or Ask about what action
to take on incoming traffic from specific IP addresses and ports.
The configuration of those rules with other security settings
provides a security agent that protects your computer.
Hardware Firewalls
If you are protecting a group of linked computers--otherwise known
as a network--you might want to get a hardware firewall, which
protects the entire network against outside attacks. Some home
networking hardware, like wireless access points and broadband
routers, come with built-in hardware firewalls. You'll still need
to use a personal firewall, though, because personal firewalls can
easily stop "outbound" threats.
Hardware firewalls can be quite complex, so if you're new to
computer security, you should ask someone more knowledgeable to
help configure a hardware firewall |
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December's
Tip, 2003
Printing information from your Address Book! |
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September's Tip, 2003
Insert a Signature Into Microsooft Word® |
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August's
Tip, 2003
Excel Shortcuts |
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July's Tip,
2003
Microsoft Word - Using The Split
Screen |
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June's Tip,
2003
Customize the Start Menu |
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May's Tip,
2003
Windows XP Shortcuts |
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April's
Tip, 2003
How to safely and automatically repair your
Windows 98/Me Registry |
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