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2007-02-21 04:43:28 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet Security

12 answers

hey karyn d

If you have been using the Internet for any length of time, and especially if you work at a larger company and browse the Web while you are at work, you have probably heard the term firewall used. For example, you often hear people in companies say things like, "I can't use that site because they won't let it through the firewall."

If you have a fast Internet connection into your home (either a DSL connection or a cable modem), you may have found yourself hearing about firewalls for your home network as well. It turns out that a small home network has many of the same security issues that a large corporate network does. You can use a firewall to protect your home network and family from offensive Web sites and potential hackers.

Basically, a firewall is a barrier to keep destructive forces away from your property. In fact, that's why its called a firewall. Its job is similar to a physical firewall that keeps a fire from spreading from one area to the next.

~Hope this helps!~

2007-02-21 04:47:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Great question!
Basically, a firewall is a barrier to keep destructive forces away from your property. In fact, that's why its called a firewall. Its job is similar to a physical firewall that keeps a fire from spreading from one area to the next
A firewall is simply a program or hardware device that filters the information coming through the Internet connection into your private network or computer system. If an incoming packet of information is flagged by the filters (programmed in the firewall), it is not allowed through.

Check out the site, its got more info on internet stuff.

2007-02-21 04:52:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

A firewall is a set of rules about what remote connections can be made with a computer (more specifically, an IP address).

So here's how it works:

Computers on the internet have IP addresses. You've probably seen an IP address somewhere before, for example 212.24.123.90. It's kind of like a phone number for a computer. One computer may have more than one IP address. So really, firewalls are about IP addresses not about computers.

Computers connect to one another via ports. A port is just a number. For example, for the world wide web, it's port 80. A firewall is a set of rules about what ports can be connected to, and by who.

The rules can get very complicated. A certain rang of IP's can connect to a certain set of ports, etc etc...

The real nitty-gritty for learning about firewalls is iptables, an old unix thing that's still in heavy use and active development. But that may be too technical for what you want to know. I put it in the source if you're interested.

2007-02-21 04:51:53 · answer #3 · answered by heartscared 3 · 0 0

A firewall can be a piece of hardware or software. It's purpose is to control the traffic that travels into and out of a network or computer. Basically it is like a door man. It checks the id of all data that crosses its path and determines if it has permission to go through.

Zonealarm has a good free software firewall if you are looking for one. Most windows operating systems also come with one for free as well.

2007-02-21 04:49:50 · answer #4 · answered by Mike 3 · 0 0

Up to this point, it appears that the techies reign. Certainly a computer firewall does all that has been described in the previous posts, but this is not the only type of fire wall.
In the construction industry, fire walls are barriers to fire. They are generally constructed of metal or concrete, or both, and are designed to prevent fire from spreading from one area in a building to another. Thre are firewalls in automobiles, as well, preventing fire from moving rapidly from the engine compartment into the passenger compartment. The effectiveness of a firewall is largely determined by the absence of openings through the wall.

2007-02-21 04:54:50 · answer #5 · answered by jpturboprop 7 · 0 0

a firewall restricts activity to and from your computer through stuff like the internet
it's usually used to prevent unwanted activity such as port scans and hackers that might enter your computer
a pretty good free firewall is zonealarm although i think windows xp comes with a built in firewall too

2007-02-21 04:48:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

A firewall blocks data from going to and from the internet unless it is via an approved program. This keeps programs that you may have installed from accessing the internet without your knowledge.

As an example, with ZoneAlarm, when you first install it any time any program tries to access the internet, such as browsers, mail programs, software with online updates, etc., you must approve the access either once or always.

It also stops probes coming from the internet by making it look like your computer is not there.

2007-02-21 04:46:57 · answer #7 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0 0

A firewall is an essential piece of software when using the net it does several things one it hides you on the net so hackers can't detect you two it stops unauthorised access to you computer to find out more visit http://www.grc.com/intro.htm and check out their shield up section it'll tell you how vulnerable you are on the net and more than likely scare you to death if you haven't a firewall a good free one is Zonealarm from http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp look for their download section and download it.

2007-02-21 04:56:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

A firewall is a traffic monitor that watches interactions between your computer and other computers - protecting your computer from possible intrusions and harm to your software and other such. Compare to antivirus and antispyware, both of which sort of clean up after-the-fact, scanning for harmful stuff that is already present (even though it may not have caused any harm yet)

2007-02-21 04:50:14 · answer #9 · answered by fjpoblam 7 · 0 0

i am not much of a techie, but from what ive heard ... it blocks others from using your wireless internet connection ... because some computers can pick up a wireless signal and allows other computers to use your wireless connection ... at their home for free! after you've paid for it ... when ppl do this it slows down your computer ... but the firewall will block them from "stealing" your wireless connection.

2007-02-21 04:46:29 · answer #10 · answered by Bella 5 · 0 1

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