Have you ever been told to make sure your firewall is turned on in your
computer settings or to check your modem to see if the firewall is configured
properly? Have you ever wondered, "What is a firewall?" This
post is going to give you a basic overview to answer that question and move you
toward a better understanding of what a firewall is??
Firewalls are unseen warriors that prevent your network and computer
from being attacked by unwanted viruses and overloads of information. Imagine a
guard at the gate of a castle. The guard knows who to let in and out through
the gate. The strong, stone walls of the castle keep help the guard thwart off
intruders meaning to do harm to those inside. This is what a firewall does at a
minimum for your network and computer. Firewalls can be found in your modem,
router, computer settings, as well as in your anti-virus program. While having
an active firewall is strongly recommended, having too many can cause conflict
with programs as well as with other active firewalls within the network. Let’s break this topic apart and figure out exactly what
a firewall is, what it does, and why it is important. We will also look at what
can happen if you don’t have one.
What exactly
is a firewall?
Google
notes that a firewall is a wall or partition designed to inhibit or prevent the
spread of fire. Well, that is not what we are looking for. Ah, it also notes
that it is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block
unauthorized access while permitting outward communication of a program, or
even a piece of hardware. Along with your antivirus program, it can help to keep
out hackers, viruses and worms that try to reach your computer. At a minimum,
you should have a firewall enabled in your computer. Whether it is the default
one on the computer or one that is activated by the installation of your
antivirus, make sure that you have one active at all times to help prevent any
infections or attacks on your system. While no firewall or antivirus program is
100%, working together, they are the best defense against viruses that can harm
your computer.
What does a
firewall do?
Firewalls
are filters. They look at all information coming through your internet
connection that is attempting to reach your home network and computer. If an
incoming piece of information is flagged by the filters, it is not allowed to
come through. Having a basic understanding of how webservers work can enable
you to understand what can happen if one packet of information infiltrates your
firewall and can infect multiple computers on the same network. Firewalls, like
computers constantly update themselves. If you prevent your firewall software
or firmware (within the hardware) from updating, it can cleave a hole in the
firewall which, when found, can be exploited by incoming infections and
attacks. This can take down an entire network and leave you having to replace
multiple devices or paying to have your machines cleaned up.
Why are
firewalls important?
Firewalls
are like security guards of your home network. They provide around the clock
protection. Rules can be established to prevent certain types of data from
coming into the network or computer as well. This is sort of like parental
controls. Prohibiting specific types of data from entering your network is
beneficial in that as it can reduce conflicts that arise from specific programs
accessing computers on your network.
What happens
if you don’t have an active firewall?
Should
you not have an active firewall, your computer will be attacked within minutes.
You have open ports and anything can come through the disabled firewall. It’s
like leaving your door open to your home and putting money on the table for
everyone to come in and grab. Once viruses, malware, worms, and Trojans see
that vulnerability in your network, your computer screen will fill with pop
ups, spyware and malware will start running and take up computer resources. It
could render your computer unusable within an hour or so.
This
is why having an active and updated firewall is so important. Unsure about your
firewall or don’t have any idea if it is enabled? Contact AEmidio Services for
assistance for ensuring that your firewall is active, updated, and working like
the security guard it is.
