NOTE :
This is in no way a comprehensive article about neworking or firewalls but a general overview of what they are. For more detailed information, please consult a technology professional, or email the author
This is in no way a comprehensive article about neworking or firewalls but a general overview of what they are. For more detailed information, please consult a technology professional, or email the author
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Anyone that knows me even remotely can tell you that I am on the internet...well, A LOT. At home, sometimes at work and just about always on my phone too. With wireless high speed internet, I am updating my facebook profile at the campground sitting next to the lake. I often get asked if I run firewalls to protect myself from hackers. The short answer is NO - well not always.
A fire what ?
I am not going to get into detail about computer network architechture. But in a nutshell, a firewall is a barrier that sits between you and the internet - a filter that purifies your internet connection. If your internet connection was a big pipe of water, a firewall would be a mesh that sits where that big pipe ends, and you water pipe starts. The main difference is, that you can manually open and close the little holes in the mesh - controlling what comes into your bucket of water.
Every application you run, uses a port (or one of those holes in the mesh) to connect to the internet. So 10 different applications can talk at the same time, and the information the internet sends back to them, will go back to the right application on that particular port. Thats great - but that also can lead to some nasty applications sitting there and either stealing your information or sending you viruses and other garbage.
So how do I plug these holes in the mesh ?
This is what a firewall does. It closes all the ports except for the ones you would use on a normal basis : port 80, for your internet. Port 25, for your email etc.
So you mean I have to run a firewall all the time ?
Well you can - it doesnt hurt anything - but depending on how you are connecting to the internet you may not necessarily NEED one.
- Internet router
If you have multiple computers are your house, you most likely use a router to connect them all together. Routers make very good firewalls. The router itself acts like a mini computer. So if a nasty virus tries to come in using your internet connection, GENERALLY its going to stop at the router - but there are exceptions to this rule of course. - Moble high speed internet
If you subscribe to one of the many wireless high speed internet packages through companies such as SPRINT, Verizon etc., you MAYBE somewhat immune. The infrastructure of their networks make it SOMEWHAT harder for possible nasties to get in.
Enough blah blah - DO I NEED A FIREWALL ?
Yes, you should. They are free, and whatever ill effects they may have (which are mostly inconveniences rather than ill effects actually) are recitified after the first use.
Where do I get one ?
There are plenty of firewall software available online and at your local big box electronics store. But you can by all means go with a free firewall such as ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-pc-security-free-firewall.htm). There is a bt of a learning curve where you have to allow and disallow all network activity. Hey, better safe than sorry, right ?
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**This is merely the opinion of one geek and should not be used as gospel. Also, I cannot take the heat for any data loss, crash or theft of data as a result of any of the info above (you should be good - but just in case)
