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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.
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firewall protection
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Why Firewall Protection?
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 Protection is Right For You?
Now that you know how vital it is to have firewall 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 protection is Installed. Now I'm Safe, Right?
With your new firewall protection 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 defence against viruses that can harm your system
is anti-virus protection. You can either buy a separate 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.
Heather Wallace is a writer whose
work has been published in national, regional, and online
publications.
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