What is a Firewall?
Do I Need a Firewall?
If I Have a Firewall, Do I Still Need Anti-virus Software?
How Can I Tell if I Have a Firewall?
How Do I Obtain a Firewall if One is Not on My Computer?
What is a Firewall?
Almost all computers today are capable of communicating over the Internet. While the Internet is very useful for applications like e-mail, web browsing, or instant messaging, the Internet can also be used for disreputable purposes. The Internet makes it possible for hackers, worms, and viruses to also attempt to communicate with your computer in order to steal files, install bad software, or even take control of your computer from a remote location.
A firewall guards your computer from Internet threats like hackers, viruses, and worms by filtering out any suspicious communications sent to your computer. In much the same way that you use caller ID on a telephone to identify who is calling before answering the call, a firewall can identify who is trying to talk to your computer and determine whether or not to allow that communication to come through. A firewall is one of the most important security tools available, and any computer connecting to the Internet should use some type of firewall.
In addition to preventing attacks coming into your computer from the Internet (which is sometimes called “inbound firewall protection”), firewalls can also be configured to prevent communications from leaving your computer and going out to the Internet (sometimes called “outbound firewall protection”). Outbound firewall protection allows you to monitor and control which programs are allowed to send information out to the Internet. This can be very useful in preventing things like spyware from sending private information without your knowledge.Firewalls are available in hardware or software varieties.
Software firewalls (sometimes called “personal firewalls”) can, and should be installed on every computer you have in your home. Software firewalls add extra features, like allowing you to specify which applications on your system can communicate over the Internet. This provides additional protection from unknown spyware that may be trying to communicate from your system. Dell recommends using a software firewall on each computer.
Hardware firewalls can also be very effective if properly configured. If you have a broadband Internet connection with a router, you most likely have a hardware firewall built into your router. Check your router documentation to determine if you have a hardware firewall and to understand configuration options.
NOTE: You can use both hardware and software firewalls at the same time.
Do I Need a Firewall?
YES! Any computer connecting to a network or the Internet should use a firewall. Without a firewall, it is much easier for hackers and viruses to gain access to your computer over the Internet and install malware. Whether you’re connecting to the Internet through a dial-up modem, cable, or digital subscriber line such as DSL, a firewall is a key component of your computer’s security.
If I Have a Firewall, Do I Still Need Anti-virus Software? YES! A firewall will protect you from unauthorized attempts to connect to your computer. It can also protect you from unauthorized attempts to share your private information outside of your computer. Applications like e-mail are authorized to communicate over the Internet. Viruses and other malware can get into your system by attaching, or being attached to e-mail or any other authorized communication channel. Because of this, you need to have both anti-virus software and a firewall to be safe.
How Can I Tell if I Have a Firewall?
If you have McAfee Security Center, perform the following steps:
• Right-click the McAfee icon in the system tray, point to Personal Firewall, and then click View Summary to check the status of the Personal Firewall.If you have Symantec's Norton Internet Security, perform the following steps:
• Right-click the Norton Internet Security icon in the system tray, and then click Open Norton Internet Security to check if Personal Firewall is "On" or "Off" under System Status.If you have Trend Micro's PC-cillin Internet Security, perform the following steps:
1. Click Start, point to All Programs, Trend Micro PC-cillin, and then click Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security.
2. Click Network Security, and then click Personal Firewall to check if the firewall is enabled or disabled.
If you did not find one of the previous firewall products installed on your PC, you may be running an operating system that came with a simplified firewall feature set. If you are using the Microsoft Window xp service Pack 2 (SP2) operating system, you can check to see if your firewall is turned on through the Windows Security Center.
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Security Center, and then click Windows Firewall.
If you have Windows XP, but you do not have Service Pack 2 running on your computer, you can download SP2 by visiting the Microsoft Update Web site. You can also check to insure that the firewall is enabled with the following steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.
TIP: If the Network and Internet Connections category is not visible, click Switch to Category View on the upper left of the window.
3. Under the Dial-Up or lan or High Speed Internet category, click to select the icon of the connection you want to help protect.
4. In the task pane on the left, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection (or right-click the connection you want to help protect, and then click Properties ).
5. On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, make sure the box is checked next to Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet. If a check mark is in the box, the firewall is already enabled. If the box is clear, the firewall is off and your computer is potentially vulnerable on the Internet.
How Do I Obtain a Firewall if One is Not on My Computer?
If you have an operating system earlier than XP that did not come with a firewall such as Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows 98, or you need to obtain and install a firewall product, If you only require a simplified feature set, you may wish to utilize the Microsoft Windows Firewall that came with Windows XP. For more information on the Windows Firewall, please visit the Microsoft Web site .