First for those who are a bit vague on what a “Firewall” is and why you need desktop firewall software, I will explain.
A firewall is a piece of software that helps to stop hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the Internet. If you are a home user or small-business user, using desktop firewall software is the most effective and important first step you can take to help protect your computer.
Without a firewall these malignant things can access your PC and cause havoc by altering programs, installing “keyboard loggers” that watch what you are typing in and sending it back to them and a host of other nasty things.
The desktop firewall software should stop entry to your PC and also stop outbound connections that you have not authorized from your PC. Unfortunately it is here where all desktop firewall software are not equal.
We should first have a look at the firewall that comes with Windows XP. The Windows XP firewall is standard with all windows versions. Windows XP Firewall does a reasonable job of blocking malicious inbound attacking traffic but does not stop outbound traffic. This means that if your PC has the nasties in it already it will not stop them connecting to external programs that have not been authorized. There are many ways other than through the Internet that these nasties can get into your computer. (Did your friend send you all those beautiful photo’s on a CD). Did you download that program you wanted in zip format?
Microsoft says that it is not in their purview to stop outbound traffic and that it is the responsibility of the owner of the PC. Did they forget that the vast majority of people owning PC’s with Windows installed are home users who know little or nothing how their PC works. They just want to use them “Microsoft” Just like they use their car.
But still having Windows XP firewall turned on is better than no firewall at all. Windows will tell you if it is not turned on when you startup your computer, usually by a balloon coming up warning you and giving you a chance to turn it on by clicking on it.
So how does desktop firewall software basically work?
The firewall monitors all traffic on the connections to the Internet for which it is enabled. The firewall keeps track of all communications that were started from your computer, and it prevents any unsolicited traffic from reaching your computer.
This means if you have, through your browser, accessed a website you have given explicit permission to receive stuff back from that website. If any other program tries to sent stuff back to you then the desktop firewall software says “hey” you have not been requested “shove off”
If necessary, the firewall itself will open ports and allow your computer to receive traffic that you have specifically requested, such as a Web page for which you have clicked the address.
A “port” is a networking term that identifies the point at which a type of network traffic reaches your computer. The exact ports that you open depend on the type of traffic you want to send and receive.
If you have desktop firewall software installed that does not allow “outbound” traffic that you have not initiated it will inform you and usually give you the opportunity to allow it. It will also allow you to enter it into an allowed database for future requests or into a not allowed database that will block it forever. All unsolicited outbound requests are managed in this manner.
So do you need a firewall that blocks all unsolicited inbound and outbound traffic. You certainly do I recommend this Desktop Firewall Software that covers all aspects of protecting against those malicious beings out there trying to attack your computer. All recommendations I make come with a full money back guarantee.
Wilf Staton.