| |
What Firewalls Can Do for YouWhat can a firewall do for you? To the computer novice, this term appears to be somewhat dubious, yet because of the literature that is always included with the computer system, even the most inexperienced computer user knows that a firewall is a good thing and that she or he should definitely have one.
A firewall is quite accurately defined as a security device that throws up a barrier between your computer and the murky depths of the Internet that are teeming with viruses, spyware, adware, and hackers intent on harvesting your personally identifiable information at the first opportunity you give them. As such, you could think of it as a membrane that according to your specifications will permit
your computer to accept or reject data from others. Here are some of the most important services a firewall will perform for you:
Worms, viruses, spyware, adware and other pieces of data that may surreptitiously become downloaded in your computer system are stopped at the firewall and thus it provides a valuable layer of protection against the most undesirable of data that like flotsam litters the Internet. This protection is extended not only while surfing but also when receiving email.
Communications that are sent out by a computer user via email may be monitored for unauthorized materials. For example, if you are sending out a large number of emails with the same subject line, the firewall software may prompt you for confirmation of your activity. Usually it assigns a deadline for confirmation, such as 60 seconds, after which it will automatically abort the email. The goal is to prevent the use of your system by hackers who may have gained access to your system and are now abusing it to SPAM other users.
More advanced firewalls will actually terminate your Internet connection when the software detects activity that is congruent with a hackers attempt to gain access to your machine.
Yet in spite of the numerous benefits that are attributed to the use of a reputable firewall, there are also a number of disadvantages. Novice computer users are often shocked to find out that this device is not the cure-all it has been touted to be after all, but it is imperative that a computer user is aware of the downside of the firewalls as well.
For example, a firewall quite often lulls the user into having a false sense of security. Due to clever advertising, the firewall is made to sound impenetrable, and the user becomes lax when it comes to properly updating anti-virus and anti-spyware applications. The result is the possibility of an attack on the computer system that the firewall will not be able to deflect.
Some firewall programs will alert the user to any and all activity on the Internet that it perceives as perhaps being an attack, even if this is not the cause. The constant barrage of pop-ups that require an action on the part of the user will gradually desensitize the user, and eventually she or he will simply click on ok no matter what is says in the little pop-up box. This may allow undesirable activity to finally sneak by.
As you can see, while a firewall does give you a sense of security, this very notion may decrease your watchfulness and may actually make you more vulnerable rather than less vulnerable to a computer attack. Your best bet when using a firewall is to know exactly what it can do for you, and understand its limitations as well. If you are unsure about the firewall, do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer to get clarification.
IM Rules to Live By and Protect Your Kids
One of the most favorite online activities for kids these days is instant messaging. Parents if you have no clue what IM is, you better educate yourself real quick! While you cannot always keep an eye on their online activities, especially since...
How the Cookie Crumbles Ways to Clean Up those Crumbs
Cookies can be annoying and invasive invaders that give outsiders your personal information without your permission or knowledge. Someone can match your name, address, sex, age, health, and financial status, with the web sites you visit and how...
Online Banking and Bill Pay How to Preserve your Personal Info
Online banking and bill pay are becoming increasingly popular as people discover that they can do everything they need to do from home on their computer. It is convenient and easy, allowing customers to manage their finances from home. However the...
Internet Privacy when You Have High Speed Internet Access
The idea of Internet privacy is not a new one. Ever since the World Wide Web took off in popularity, there were those unsavory elements who sought to exploit it unscrupulously for personal gain. At times this meant hacking into an unsuspecting users...
Crypt Keeper The Role of Encryption on the Internet
Encryption used to be largely a military tool until the advent of the Internet. Today however, even the average person is aware of encryption due to the increased use of online marketing, banking, and healthcare and other services. Encryption...
|
|
|
|
|