Re: What is a firewall?

From: Joe Richards [MVP] (humorexpress_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 12/31/03 

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 19:25:49 -0500

A firewall is a piece of software or a device that controls what kinds of network packets get from one network or device
to another. Generally it is a device between the internet and a local LAN network though it could be a piece of software
on a local PC that is connected directly to the internet. The firewall is generally configured to allow no packets into
the protected region that weren't "requested" by the protected region. I.E. You can call out and ask for something but
someone else can't just send something in. However this configuration can be tweaked to allow certain types of traffic
in that isn't requested depending on the protection you need.

At this point if you are on high speed internet connections such as Cable Modem or ADSL or something like that you
absolutely should have some firewall software or device hooked up. Karl gave some recommendations for some free stuff. I
would ask that you also actually look into a little firewall switch or hub from linksys or one of those companies as
well that you hook your computer to on one side and your high speed network connection to on the other. This way if
something happens to the software on your PC, you still have some form of protection.

You really should update your antivirus software signatures at least monthly but hopefully more frequently such as
weekly or daily. Note that this isn't the same as updating your antivirus software completely. AV software has software
updates called signatures that tell the computer how to recognize new viruses that didn't exist previously. These
signatures are what you need to update.

 joe 

-- 
Joe Richards
www.joeware.net
--
"kathi" <kpletzke@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:021201c3cf21$fd6dfca0$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> Do I need one?
>
> I haven't updated my antivirus software in about 15
> months?  Is that OK?

Relevant Pages

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    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Why not use NETBEUI on Windows XP ??
    ... Trusted zones means that firewall rules will be bypassed for any or certain ... not count on netbeui being a defense for such as long as smb connectivity ... while the connection is open. ... > Microsoft Networking components on my network. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.networking)
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  • Re: Firewall for broadband connection
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