There is a great amount of danger to those who decide to connect their computer to the internet without having a firewall in place. Since the internet is rather risky at times, it is important that you protect both your computer and your personal information from attacks that may surface. Here are a few things that you need to know about your computer’s firewall.
How it Works
A firewall can either be hardware or software. It works to control the information that passes between the internet and your computer. With a firewall, information is filtered before it is transferred to the internet and the firewall only allows authorized data to be received or sent. A firewall can also prevent computers or connections from connecting to your computer. It can also hide the unique IP address of your computer, which can make it invisible to others.
Hardware or Software
The difference between hardware firewalls and software firewalls is that software can be installed directly onto a single computer. There will be no need for any hardware other than the firewall software. With a hardware firewall, it is possible to have a router that can protect several computers at once. Typically, it is suggested that both a software firewall and a wireless router be used for protecting a computer.
Is a Firewall Enough?
While a firewall is important to the protection of your data, it is also important that you have an anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed on your computer. There are many protection packages that offer all three forms of protection and these are the best option to choose.
Make sure that you educate yourself regarding how to protect your computer properly before selecting a firewall to protect your computer. Contact us to learn more about how to protect your computer and your information from attacks.