CITO PC Security
- What is a firewall?
- How can this protect me PC?
- Is it necessary to have a firewall?
A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that has been designed to allow you to control how information comes into your PC and how information leaves your PC. It can be thought of in the following terms:
The windows and doors of a house can either be open or closed. The house owner decides which to open and which to close. A firewall offers you the same control over the 'doors and windows' of your PC.
Many types of viruses will attempt to download and upload information from a PC that has been infected. The implementation of a firewall will ensure that you are informed of such an activity and will have the opportunity to block this type of communication.
The use of a firewall is a personal preference. What it boils down to is the level of security you wish to implement on your PC. If you are security conscious then a firewall is a tool that should be present on your PC.
More detailed information on firewalls and how they work can be found below.