Stop the intruders using a firewall

A firewall is a ‘must-have’ if you want to be safe online. Arm your PC with this critical interface to stay safe.

You know you have to keep your PC safe from viruses. But an anti-virus program cannot help you deal with malicious people or computer robots from trying to enter your PC. Many websites have malicious code running which can put your computer in trouble. This is the reason you need a firewall.

 

Ever noticed at work, when you are trying to send a file to your friend on chat, and you get a message that says you cannot send the file to him because you are behind a firewall? That is the precaution that your company has taken to ensure that chat programs do not compromise the office network.

 

A firewall can be a software or hardware device or a combination of both used to monitor and filter network traffic according to a set of predefined rules. Generally, firewalls are set up to protect against unauthenticated logins from the cyber world. A firewall can also guard you against malicious websites and potential hackers. More elaborate firewalls block traffic for the outside to the inside, but allow users to communicate freely with the outer world.

 

If you have a home computer, it’s enough to go for a personal software firewall. Windows XP (SP2) comes with one installed. You can switch it on by going to Control Panel – Windows Firewall. In offices, a firewall is placed at the gateway of web connectivity with its predefined rules based on the company specifications. Once in place, a firewall monitors and restricts information travelling between your computer and the Internet.

 

So if an intruder attempts to enter your system, his request is rejected by the firewall. The firewall only allows permissible transactions to take place. So while you maybe able to surf the web or download files, requests from hacker programs or suspicious codes are rejected. A skillfully configured firewall, at times makes your system appear practically invisible! Remember that the efficiency of a firewall greatly depends on the way the “rules” are set.

 

There are many free software firewalls for download. You can use a reputed one and install it on your computer. But remember to diable Windows Firewall before you start using it. Although many firewalls are designed to fight viruses, it’s best to have a separate anti-virus program installed on your computer.

 

There are limitations with firewalls too. Not all firewalls can protect you against viruses. A firewall cannot tell you whether it has been correctly configured or not. Also, not many firewalls can indicate whether your system has been compromised.