Skip to main content

Firewalls in Simple Terms

Since I supply Broadband and often set it up for my customers, I sometimes come across people who don't have a firewall. Even those that do, are often unsure of what it does.
I think that the best way to think about a Firewall is to compare it to the security in your home.
To prevent people breaking in, you will have locks and bolts and perhaps an alarm.
A firewall does the same on your computer. It prevents unauthorised access. Just as you can let in anyone to your house, so you can override your firewall and let a program in. If your firewall doesn't recognise a program which is trying to gain access as 'safe', it will block it and, generally, ask you whether you want to grant permission. How do you know what to do? The safest response is always to deny permission. Then, if some program that you want to use stops working you can reconsider your decision. If it is something you don't recognise, refuse and look it up in Google to see if there are any references.
If you let something in that turns out to be a 'bad' program, most good firewalls will recognise the fact and stop it contacting the internet and spreading to others via your computer.
If you don't have a firewall that is up to date and funds are tight, then you can download one for free here http://tinyurl.com/rak67

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

6 Minutes to Change Your Life?

Small things can often have a big impact and our lives are never the same again. There is a short video on the Mastery TV Homepage which, if you care to ponder its message, can hardly fail to have a profound affect on you. Why not take a few undisturbed minutes and have a look at the remarkable story of "Team Hoyt"? Here is the link..... www.masterytv.com Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

The Best Online Videos?

It is a holiday weekend here in the UK. So I have a fantastic website for you, which can change your life. It is staggering that these videos are available online for free. (You just have to log in to see them all). These are probably the greatest modern day communicators you will ever see. Enjoy! www.masterytv.com Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Software Bargain (Save £300+)

If you don't have Microsoft Office installed on your computer, you are often at a disadvantage. You might not be able to open Word documents or Spreadsheets that are sent by other people. PowerPoint presentations can also be a problem. So, one option is to 'bite the bullet' and shell out over £300 for the software. Luckily there there is an alternative which will save you a fortune. [This is just for the UK.] Tesco now sell their own software range which you can buy in store or online. They have an Office compatible suite which comprises four programs. Word processor, database, spreadsheet and presentation programs. How much? Just £19.99 AND if you are using it at home, the licence allows you to install it on more than one computer. At the moment they also have a 'buy one get one free offer'. So if you know someone else who wants the program, you can share and it will only cost you £10. Alternatively, you can choose from the rest of the Tesco software range. I have ...