Antivirus, Firewall and Spyware Resources
Computer Security Essentials for Everyone

Firewalls

What is a firewall?

A firewall is a special system that is designed to prevent unauthorized or unwanted access to or from a network. Firewalls can be configured to allow only certain types of data in, and to allow only certain types of data out. A firewall is considered to be the first line of defense in protecting computers from unwanted “visitors” such as hackers and remote control via hidden spyware applications. Every computer that is attached to the internet should be protected by some sort of firewall, particularly those computers connected via broadband (cable, DSL, T-1, etc…). Without firewall protection, a computer is an open door to intrusions of all types from the internet. Hackers are constantly on the lookout for open internet connections that are not protected by a firewall, as these computers are easy targets. To prevent unwanted intrusion, a firewall is an absolute necessity.

There are two types of firewalls: hardware firewall and software firewall. A hardware firewall is a physical device that is located in between the internet/network connection and the computer/s on the network. A software firewall is also known as a personal firewall. Software firewalls are installed on individual computers. Many people use a combination of both hardware and software firewall, as each offers a unique blanket of protection.

How Does a Firewall Work?

Firewalls generally use several different types of techniques to protect the network. Packet filtering is used to check each packet of data that enters or leaves the network to see if it should be rejected based on the rules you set. A proxy server is used to intercept all messages and can also hide the true network address, essentially making your network “invisible” to prying eyes on the internet. Application gateways are used to apply different security rules to different types of applications, allowing only the application data (such as FTP) specified to go through and blocking all other types (like Telnet). Generally, once you set the rules on a firewall you can forget it’s there. Many personal firewalls have the addition of privacy control, which provides protection for certain data like passwords, account numbers, etc…

Software Firewalls

Also known as a personal firewall, a software firewall is a program that is installed on your computer. It protects only the computer it is installed on, so if a software firewall is the only type of firewall used on a network, each computer must have a personal firewall installed. There are many good software firewall products available, and all are reasonably priced for the degree of protection they provide. Avanquest ZoneAlarm Pro 2006, PC Cillin, Sygate Personal Firewall, Armor2net Personal Firewall, Sunbelt Personal Firewall, Outpost Firewall Pro, Jetico personal firewall, Zone Labs Zone Alarm, and AVG Firewall are all good software firewall products that offer excellent protection. Norton Personal Firewall 2006 – Blocks online intrusions automatically – Download the newest version now! Click Here for more information.

For most home use with only one or two computers accessing the internet, a software firewall is all the protection needed (provided it is configured correctly). As with any computer protection software, periodic updates should be downloaded and installed in order to keep the firewall protection at it's best.

Computer Security Suites

If a personal firewall is all you use, consider getting one of the all-inclusive software computer security suites, which include a firewall in addition to anti virus and anti spyware software. It is much more economical to by bundled software, and the suites generally include everything most people need. Some excellent pc security suites are Zone Labs ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, Symantec Nortons Internet Security Suite, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Trend Micro Pc Cillin Internet Security Suite, and Computer Associates e Trust Internet Security Suite.

Hardware Firewall

Originally designed for use on large corporate networks, hardware firewalls are made for networks of all types and sizes now. Large hardware firewalls designed for big business use can cost thousands of dollars, but many good hardware firewall products designed especially for home and small office use are very affordable. A hardware firewall is a device that attaches between the incoming internet connection and the router that computers are connected to. It acts like a guard at the gate, checking every bit of data coming and going. If an unauthorized user or restricted type of data attempts to enter or exit the network, it is blocked. A properly configured hardware firewall is generally all that is needed to protect all computers on the network. Some popular hardware firewalls are Hotbrick Firewall, Checkpoint Firewall, SonicWall, D-Link Network Firewall, and Barracuda Spam Firewall. With hardware firewalls, be sure to check for and install periodic firmware upgrades. This is important software that keeps the firewall appliance up to date and operating at it's best.

Hardware Firewalls and Software Firewalls

As mentioned earlier, many people use a combination of hardware firewall and personal firewall. This is useful for those who spend a lot of time on the internet, particularly doing a lot of online bill payment, shopping and banking activities. The hardware firewall acts as a gateway guard, and the software firewall not only provides an extra layer of protection, but usually has added protection built in to alert the user if any personal data (such as passwords, bank account numbers, etc…) are being sent. This gives the user more information and more control over who is getting what information. For people who use a laptop, a hardware firewall at home or work offers protection locally while a software firewall provides laptop security while on public networks in hotels, coffee shops, airports, etc…

Spam Firewall

Over the past few years, SPAM has become an annoying, resource hogging, and time consuming problem for individuals and businesses alike. Despite the implementation of the CAN Spam act, the amount of spam email continues to grow. Many people are now seeking an anti spam appliance or some other type of spam filter to control the huge amount of junk email hitting their inboxes. A spam firewall is a good option for those who need total network protection. Anti spam software is also available for individual computers.

A spam firewall appliance normally sits in between a mail server and the internet. It’s job is to analyze all emails and filter out those that meet the criteria to be considered spam. Spam firewalls usually offer anti virus protection too. A spam firewall is generally designed to work with email only, and does not offer protection from unwanted visitors as a regular hardware firewall does. If considering the purchase of a spam firewall, this should be in addition to a traditional hardware firewall appliance. Some popular spam firewalls include Barracuda Spam Firewall, Blue Squirrel Spam Sleuth, Borderware MXtreme Mail Firewall and Sendio ICE Box.