Firewall Protection

Contributed by Lindsey Michael Miller

So you’ve just gotten a new computer and you’re tense as to what evil may be waiting for you at the turn of that next browsing bend; or perhaps you’ve been online for a while, but are just becoming aware of the potential dangers of being on the Internet. Either way, the dangers are real, but there are precautions you can take to ensure a higher amount of surfing safety.

Many people have heard of a firewall, and may have had experience with them at work, but aren’t completely sure exactly what they are or why they’re needed. Firewalls are, essentially, the gatekeeper to your computer’s information. That’s a fairly simplistic explanation of something that can have added layers of complex code and several types of protection throughout an entire networked system, but it’s a good start.

You may be asking by this point, “What exactly is out there that I need protection against anyway? Shouldn’t my antivirus software protect me?”

Well, yes actually, your antivirus software should protect everything that’s going onto your computer from the Internet, but it doesn’t protect you from potential hackers who are using the Internet to get into your computer and take your information. You are probably aware of terms like spyware, malware, worms, trojans, and adware. These are terms that apply to some types of viruses, but they also apply to hackers who are trying to get into your computer.

A firewall is a security instrument that controls who can gain access and transmit data through your computer or network. They can be employed on both software and hardware to ensure greater protection. Many networks use a combination of both for a higher level of security. Everything entering or exiting your computer or network has to go through the firewall. Once this is taking place, the firewall tests all messages and blocks the ones that fail to meet the stipulated security rules or criteria. Simply put, it’s a guard or watchdog for your computer’s information.

The different types of firewalls are as follows:

• Packet Filters:

  Packet filters scan each network packet that is using your computer and admits or rejects them according to the parameters you’ve established.

• Proxy Servers:

  Proxy severs, such as FTPs, Web Proxies, Secure Web Proxies, Streaming Proxies, SOCKS Proxies, and Gopher Proxies scan all messages leaving or entering your computer’s network and are efficient in hiding your computer address.

• Application Gateways:

  Application gateways are basically security methods that scan through and safeguard specific applications.

• Ciruit-level Gateways:

  Circuit-level gateways are security means for special connections like Transmission Control Protocol and User Datagram Protocol.

• Encrypted Data:

  Encrypted data really isn’t a type of firewall, but a feature that some firewalls can do to help ensure greater safety.

Now that you know what they are, you should know how to get one. Macintosh® computers have firewalls already built into the operating system, but you can always buy or download others if you want extra security. For those using Microsoft® Windows® based machines, you’re especially susceptible to spyware, so having firewall help is a must. You can buy them online or at any computer store, or you can download some personal-use firewalls for free online.

The thing to bear in mind is that no security system is completely safe, and any computer or network on the Web can be hacked. A precautionary measure of weekly or daily backing up your data is an absolute must for anyone who wants to ensure their data’s safety. This can be done through CDs or DVDs, any external hard drive, or Internet storage space.

It’s still a good if not necessary precaution to install a firewall, and it certainly increases your safety and security, and decreases the odds of being hacked.

Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computers, Inc. registered in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

About the Author:
Lindsey Michael Miller is a writer and freelance journalist living in Brooklyn, New York and writes articles for newspapers and magazines around the country. He’s currently working on a MFA in creative writing at Long Island University and recently published his first book entitled The Circus.

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