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When you signed up for that
ultra-fast DSL or Cable connection there was probably one
very important piece of information that your ISP failed
to mention. By accessing the Internet via a high-speed
connection, you have tremendously increased your chances
of being victimized by a computer hacker.
Dial-up may not have seemed
like it could have held any advantages, but it actually
did have one upside. It is much less prone to hacking.
Every time you dialed-in your computer was assigned a new
IP address. That unique IP address made you a moving
target that was more difficult for hackers to hit.
With a high-speed
connection you are assigned a static IP address (it never
changes). So, your computer went from being a moving
target to staying still with a bulls-eye pasted on the
side. That, coupled with the fact that with a high-speed
connection your computer is always online, are ideal
conditions for a potential hacker attack. That seemingly
beneficial always-on connection gives hackers a 24/7 open
invitation to try and hack your system. Once inside they
can access personal or financial details, compromise your
computer's operating system, or unleash a virus, worm, or
spyware.
Which Firewall is Right For
You?
Now that you know how vital
a firewall is to the protection of your PC you have to
decide which firewall is right for you. Software or
hardware.
A software firewall is
designed to monitor your computers activity at all times.
Think of it as a bodyguard who won't let anyone into your
computer if he doesn't like the look of them. With a
software firewall you may to have to assist in protecting
your system. The firewall might alert you to certain
activity and ask you if you want to grant or deny
permission. It's just like the bodyguard that was
mentioned before. He needs the okay before telling someone
to scram. After you give either the thumbs up or the
thumbs down the firewall will take the appropriate action
and remember your reply so that you won't be asked in the
future.
If you feel comfortable
installing and configuring hardware, then you might want
to consider a hardware firewall in the form of a Cable/DSL
router. The hardware firewall handles everything on its
own without any input from you and you also won't have to
read any reports or make any decisions. The firewall
handles everything on its own. Installation, however, can
be tricky, so this option is definitely more suited to the
advanced computer user.
My Firewall is Installed.
Now I'm Safe, Right?
With your new firewall in
place you are probably thinking that your computer is
impenetrable, right? Well, maybe not. As important to the
security of your system as a firewall is, some do have
their limits. Most software firewalls won't scan your
system for viruses that can harm your computer and there
aren't any hardware firewalls on the market that offer
virus protection. That means that you are still vulnerable
to attack.
The best line of defense
against viruses that can harm your system is anti-virus
protection.You can either buy a seperate anti-virus
program or shop around for a software firewall with
anti-virus protection built-in. You may never be able to
make your computer 100% hacker-proof, but the installation
of a firewall coupled with anti-virus protection will
greatly reduce your chances of becoming a hacker's next
victim.
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About
The Author
Heather
Wallace is a writer whose work has been
published in national, regional, and
online publications. Additionally, she has
written articles as a newspaper
correspondent. Visit http://www.fetchingsites.com/FreeFirewall.html
to download a free firewall that is
easy-to-use and will block hackers and
other unknown threats. |
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