Firewalls
What is a firewall?
A firewall guards your computer and programs against unwanted access
by hackers and malicious use. It can isolate potentially dangerous
files attached to incoming emails, the source of most unwanted accesses.
Options
can be set to alert you to attacks or to your programs that try to
access the internet. A firewall guards the ports (or doors) through which
internet
traffic travels.Firewalls also keep account of the programs that you
allow acces to the internet. Your browser and email programs are clearly
two that
you do want
to access
the internet but others may try to gain access. You decide which programs
to give internet access.
Do I need a firewall?
Anyone who uses a computer to send and receive email or to browse the
internet should seriously consider installing a firewall. Hackers can
seize your computer's internet address and use it to access passwords
and credit-card numbers. Do you want this to happen?
For a free firewall download ZoneAlarm and install it yourself.