Explanation: A firewall is a device – hardware or software - that filters information being transferred through your Internet connection with your computer. If a packet of information is flagged by the filters, it is not allowed through. Simply, a firewall is a barrier to keep destructive forces away from your property.
Recommendation: Unless you connect through a router with a hardware firewall built-in, you definitely need to run a software firewall at all times.
The simplest option is to enable Windows Firewall by going to Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall > select On > click OK.
If you'd like a little better security, and are willing to do a bit more configuration, I recommend you try the excellent and free: ...
categorized as internet security.
Tips Before You Surf the Net, Computer Security
Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet that will guarantee the security of your computer 100 percent; however, what you can do to continue to improve your computer's security and decrease the possibility ...
The Adware Controversy
Many fear that anti-spyware laws will outlaw legitimate adware, which is a perfectly acceptable form of advertising and commerce is perfectly acceptable, that is, until it takes the form of spyware and ...
Can someone else really control my computer?
Can someone really gain control of your computer? In a word, “YES!†Get this: The average machine is so poorly protected that someone (and a “bad†someone, at that) tries to enter several ...
Laws Governing Spyware
I just ran across a staggering statistic. Did you know that Websense, a reputable network marketing firm, recently studied forms with more than 100 people (and their computers, of course) and found ...
The History of Spyware
The first time the phrase “spyware†was used was in Oct. 1994. At that time, the phrase was used in a post and jokingly referenced Microsoft's business model. After that, the term “spyware†...
What is Spyware?
Spyware is best explained as software that infiltrates your computer and captures your personal information, including tracking where you have been online (to sell this information to advertisers), capturing your keystrokes (which ...
Signs your computer may be infected by Malware
After you open and run an infected program or attachment on your computer, you might not realize that you've introduced a virus until you notice something isn't quite right. By then, some damage ...
How do viruses, worms and other forms of Malware work?
Viruses and worms are the most well known of the Malware family, and as the name implies, they “crawl†through your computer and infect it. Originally, the term computer virus was used for ...