FIREWALL SOFTWARE
What is a Computer Firewall Software?
Computer Firewall is a small software that sits at the main gate of your computer through which all the internet and intranet traffic data packets enter and leave your PC or Laptop. A Computer Firewall Software acts like a gate keeper who checks the identity and address from where each packet is coming from and inspects what data is contained in the packet.Based on the rules and regulations that you have set in the firewall software installed in your computer, the data packets will be allowed to enter your PC from internet or will be prevented from entering. Similarly, the firewall software also checks each and every data packet leaving your computer and will not allow any data that you have set a rule in the firewall to prevent getting out of your Computer.
Experts recommend that even if you have a very good Antivirus Software and AntiSpyware Software installed your computer is not protected completely unless you Download & Install Firewall Software in your PC/Laptop
Windows FireWall Software
Computers running Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP (SP2 and above) already has the Windows Firewall Software installed, activated and running by default.Other computer running previous Windows Versions will have to activate Windows Firewall for each and every internet or LAN connection. To do it Click the Start Button on bottom left of your desktop, then click control panel and in the control panel look for Windows Firewall and double click it. Read carefully and turn the Windows Firewall On/Off as desired.
The Windows Firewall Software has some default programs that it allows to pass through the Firewall. You will need to set any other program that you need to connect to the internet by adding them into the firewall setting/rules. Even if you block all incoming traffic using Windows Firewall Software you can still view webpages as well as send and receive emails.
This is a big security loop which hackers have used very often to freeze up and crash most Computers running the Free Windows FireWall Software.
So I recommend you to Download Computer Firewall Software from PC Tools Internet Security Software which has an Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Spam and a Firewall Software combined into one amazing internet security software pack unmatched in features and ease of use by any other similar software.
How Computer FireWall Software Work ?
All the computers on the Internet communicate using a protocol like TCP, UDP, ICPM. The TCP/IP protocol is already installed by default on all computers so that your computer can connect to internet.Each computer sends out a data packet to another computer on the internet with an exact IP address. The computer which receives this data packet will read the packet content which is nothing but the source computer IP address, the destination Computer IP address and an acknowledgement bit.
Once the packet is received the destination computer sends the acknowledgement back to the source computer that the data packet you sent me has been received.
The Firewall software installed in your computer inspects and allows the data packet to go from your computer by default after reading the destination IP address.
Although the Firewall Software is designed to block all incoming data packets it still allows the acknowledgment data that comes back from the destination comupter IP address as the firewall software recognizes the data as a reply to what your computer asked for and allows it to enter you PC/Laptop.
But if there is virus, malware, or other unknown data packed along with the acknowledgement data packet or data packets arriving later from the destination computer IP address, then your Firewall Software will block that threat by preventing that data to enter your PC.
Since each computer sends out the next data packet only after it receives the acknowledgement receipt data arrives back to it, the destination computer will not send the subsequent data packets as the acknowledgement of receipt of the previous packet has not been sent out by your computer.
This means that your computers internet connection with the destination computer IP address is now cut off. This is how a Firewall Software Protects your Computer from virus, malware, adware, spyware, trojans, browser hijackers, rootkits and other threats from infecting your computer.
Computer FireWall Software Blocks Spam Emails
Emails are transferred between computers on the internet using SMTP protocol. SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Basically an SMTP is a text based protocol to push mails out as a text message with a address of the receipients.It is a push only protocol so cannot be used to pull messages from a mail server. ESMPT or extended SMPT protocol is used to push out mail with graphics also. Usually the SMTP uses Port 25 with the server. To pull or receive mail messages from the mail server POP or IMAP is used.
When you send a message, your computer firewall allows it to go unless you have specified otherwise. The SMTP server will verify this mail and sends it to the destination and tracks it to see that the mail is delivered at the specified address. If the mail is not delivered it sends you an error message. If the senders address cannot be identified then it called email spamming. The SMTP server as well as your Firewall Software will block such spam emails.
FireWall Software for Network Computers
If you have more than one computer at home/Company and they are on a network online then, you need to connect them to the internet through one router because a router is the best form of firewall for this setup. In addition your must also install a Firewall software on each computer separately.Configuring Your Computer FireWall Software
Even if you give rules to firewall to block outbound and inbound traffic, some smart guy or a Computer Virus can use an unapproved protocol that you did not set a rule for in the firewall.And since there is no rule to stop it, that was configured by you in the firewall settings, so the firewall allows this data packet to go through compromising the security. And all modern Computer Firewall Software allows all incoming packets which were sent as a response to your computers data packet sent out earlier.
Computer FireWall Software Blocks Ports
Every data packet sent out or received in your computer has a source and destination port. Usually the out source from you PC/Laptop is a random port. But the destination port is always a well known port. For example: Destination port for HTTP is 80 and DNS is 53.Viruses and Hackers use this loop hole in your Computer browser to get access to your PC/Laptop. Thus it is very important to read the help manual of your Computer Firewall Software and configure the firewall correctly.
Usually the default settings of your Firewall Software should be good enough for home computers. But in your Company network it advisable to configure it allowing any room or loophole for a user to work around these rules and compromise your Computer Security.
Computer FireWall Software Modem Dialup
Even when the Computer has a Firewall Software installed there are still some things that a bad user can do.A stupid user without a second thought for your computer or network security can install and use a modem to dial out of the network and establish a connection to another network. This can only be prevented by educating your computer users at home or in your company network and strictly enforcing passwords.
There are certain Password Recovery Software which were designed to retrieve forgotten passwords from your computer which your network computer users could use to break the passwords.
So ensure you have long passwords with special characters and numerals etc and change your passwords at regular intervals. Even your firewall software settings has a password protection which also should be changed very regularly.
Computer FireWall Software IP Spoofing
IP Spoofing is done by hackers to get access into your computer. But he has to work a lot and need to know all the rules you have set into your Computer Firewall Software. Some companies set their network firewall to accept and send data packets only from a particular IP address.All other data packets are stopped by your Firewall Software. The hacker will try to send data traffic to your computer imitating that IP address to fool the Firewall Software. But he may not succeed unless he find out all the other rules also that is set into your Firewall Software.
Thus it is very important to configure your Firewall to prevent IP Spoofing. One method to work around IP Spoofing is to have a Virtual Private Networking also called VPN in short.
Virtual Private Networking Firewall Software
Even though you have a Computer FireWall Installed you will still need a VPN or Virtual Private Networking if your network or home PC/Laptop needs to be on a very high security standards.In a VPN environment all the data sent out and received are in encrypted form. The encrypted data needs a private key to unencrypt and read the locked data contained in the packets being sent out and received at both computers. Each source computer uses a different key to encrypt the data and tells the other computer about it when the VPN is established.
This is like a private tunnel dug between the two computers and no hacker or virus will ever get to know what information is flowing in between the two computers. It is as good as you being not connected to the internet at all. But you cannot do away with the Firewall Software because the hackers will enter your PC and find out the private key in no time. Thus VPN is of no use if you do not install a Good FireWall Software in your Computer.
Types of Computer Firewall Software
There are basically four types of Firewall Software technology available today namely, Packet Filter, Circuit Level Gateways, Application Level Gateways and Multilayer Inspection Firewall Software. Which one is the best suited for your environment is what you should install.For a Network you should use a Router. The routers uses a Packet Filter Firewall which can be implemented at very low cost as the routers job is to ensure traffic between two or more networks. The router firewall software will inspect each of the data packets against the rules you have configured and allows or disallows the packets in and out of the network.
Routers using NAT or Network Address Translation give your network the full capabilities of Packet Filtering technology plus Circuit Level Gateway as it can also hide the actual IP address of your PC/Laptop or the network itself behind the FireWall.
Application Level Gateway Firewall are similar to the Circuit Level Gateways except that it is Application Specific in function and is at times called the Proxy. It does not allow Gopher, Telenet, FTP etc.
The Multilayer Inspection Firewall is basically an advanced combination of the other three types. It filters the packets, monitors the handshake between computers and also inspects all the contents of all packets sent out and received. It is sophisticated, complicated to configure and costly to implement.
Which Computer Firewall Software You Need ?
Your computer is not safe on the internet and the intranet without installing a Firewall Software. Even your friend can steal your personal data like internet banking details, creditcard numbers etc and even crash your computer if he has a little knowledge about TCP/IP and ports etc.Your home PC is also vulnerable on the internet even if you have Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware Software installed because these software only detect malware after your PC has it.
A firewall software on the other hand prevents unauthorized entry to all malware, hackers etc and also is capable of hiding your IP address which means no one ever comes to know when you connect to the internet. Firewall Software can be breached by your company staff on the LAN or at home by your spouse or children unknowingly by turning it off or using a dialout using modem, or changing the firewall rules you have configured. Use Strong Passwords, change your passwords regularly, educate everyone using your home or office network PC.
Take security seriously or you may end up regretting. A few dollars spent to buy a Firewall Software is worth the problems and frustrations you will otherwise undergo if your computer security is breached
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