You might think you don't need a firewall because windows XP has one built in, but read on for a plain-english explanation why this isn't enough.
Before broadband and cable connections were common most people didn't need a personal firewall because they weren't connected to the Internet for extended periods of time.
Every computer that connects to the internet has an IP address. This is like a sort of phone number, and is issued either to an individual computer or to a "gateway" that connects a private network to the 'net.
Domestic dial-up internet connections normally use a system called Dynamic IP Addressing where people are issued with a sort of "new identity" every time they connect, so it's difficult to find and attack an individual computer - Dynamic IP addressing is a bit like having your phone number change every time you use the phone, which makes it difficult for the bad guys to find you.
But the longer you keep a particular "phone number" the more chance there is of someone finding you and that is why high-speed always-on connections need handling with care.
In particular, with "always on" DSL and cable connections you are connected for extended periods of time which give the attackers more chance of finding you if you've got an unprotected connection.
In these days of identity theft and with more and more security holes being uncovered in commercial software it is vital that you have a good firewall if you use a high-speed connection.
You may already have a firewall, either in a device called a "Broadband Router" which goes between your computer and the Internet or the very basic firewall built in to Windows XP Service Pack 2 and you might think that's all you need.
But there's another reason that you won't have thought of.
Basic firewalls will tell you, and hopefully protect you if someone is trying to get in.... but they won't tell you if something is trying to get out!
That's right! Certain spyware and viruses can gather your personal information and send it out of your machine without you knowing.
A good firewall will spot these attempts to send stuff out and will warn you, quite possibly before your Antivirus or Spyware application notices the problem. Which gives you time to get the problem fixed.
Steve Blampied lives in Jersey in the Channel Islands and has been an independent IT consultant for around 10 years.
He is currently putting together a web site solely about free software.
http://www.freesoftwareadvice.com
He also has a small IT company in Jersey.
http://www.freesoftwareadvice.com
When you first think about multicurrency ? you probably have... Read More
The Microsoft system preparation utility for Windows 2000 is a... Read More
Should one use Windows Update?This topic has good and valid... Read More
Cyberspace has opened up a new frontier with exciting possibilities... Read More
The intuitive algorithm.Roger Penrose considered it impossible. Thinking could never... Read More
Microsoft Word is one of the most popular office applications... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains and Microsoft Retail Management System (Microsoft RMS)... Read More
Whether you are an experienced web programmer or a complete... Read More
Linux essentials:It's free for download but you have to pay... Read More
#5 All your hardware components like Printers, PCs etc come... Read More
You turn on your computer, and it doesn't look quite... Read More
It won't matter how effective your WinRunner Team is if... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions products: Great Plains, MS CRM, Navision, Axapta,... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very popular ERP platform... Read More
An operating system (abbreviated OS) is essentially the path through... Read More
There are plenty of articles out there about how to... Read More
While I was in college, if you would have asked... Read More
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used software... Read More
When you double-click a layer in the Layer Palette, you... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains version 8.5, 8.0, 7.5, Great... Read More
Designing without tables by using CSS layouts is fast becoming... Read More
Spyware and malware are large problems for Internet users today... Read More
Shareware has been fighting the stigma of being misunderstood for... Read More
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more... Read More
ERP Consulting industry is on the way to serve clients... Read More
Some introduction into Great Plains Software products, now Microsoft Business... Read More
XML parser is a software module to read documents and... Read More
Microsoft bought Navision, Denmark based software development company, along with... Read More
Designing without tables by using CSS layouts is fast becoming... Read More
When you visit department stores and see that majority of... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Navision serves both European and American megamarkets.... Read More
In this article you will find some background information about... Read More
With the advent of 'Service Pack 2' for Windows XP... Read More
Now there are Three Steps To Heaven Just listen and... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has several options to enable... Read More
Features Additionally, Vista will include many other new features.Aero Vista... Read More
Finding the best spyware removers to detect and remove spyware... Read More
Microsoft bought Navision, Denmark based software development company, along with... Read More
Which Type of Shop Can Rely On A Home Built... Read More
The software giants don't do everything and don't always produce... Read More
Ad-Aware and Spybot are probably the two most well known... Read More
There are two major WYSIWYG(What You See Is What You... Read More
The adware and spyware definitions list is very long. But... Read More
The first thing that you will notice about Linux Red... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More
Costs of fleet maintenance software can vary widely. It is... Read More
Introduction: The creating of a computer program involves a number... Read More
What is Colossus?Colossus is software licensed to about twenty-five insurance... Read More
What is Tripwire?Tripwire is a form intrusion detection system (IDS)... Read More
While I was in college, if you would have asked... Read More
Software |