How To Choose A Fire Wall Software Program

In the real world a "fire wall" is a fireproof wall that is built to stop the spread of fire from one part of a building to others. In the Internet world a firewall has a similar purpose in that it stops the spread of harmful viruses and attacks from entering your home or office network.

Because of the ever-increasing threats that are appearing on the Internet you no longer have to be in business to need the protection of a fire wall. In fact, every computer that is connected to the internet should have one installed. You'll be a lot happier once you know that you have protected your personal files, information, and financial data, such as credit cards and bank account numbers, from being shared with every crook on the internet.

Here are some questions that you should consider before you choose a fire wall for your PC:

1. What features do I need?

2. Do I want to be protected from viruses, Trojan horses and worms?

3. Am I at risk because I use programs that access the Internet automatically?

4. How much am I willing to spend on a firewall solution?

Here are the common features that are available in almost any software-based fire wall program:

Inbound filtering - protects unknown users or programs from accessing your PC

Outbound filtering - Protects your PC from sending information to the Internet without your permission

Application integrity verification - Verifies that any program you are running aren't sneaking around behind your back and doing things that they shouldn't be doing.

Data encryption - Automatically scrambles any sensitive data that you do allow to be transmitted.

Stealth mode - Hides that fact that your PC is even connected to the Internet so that hackers can't see you.

Pop-up ad blocking - Stops those annoying ads.

Cookie blocking - prevents web sites from sending you cookies without your permission Spyware protection - Blocks dangerous spyware from operating on your PC

There are many software-based firewall programs that can be downloaded from the internet. Most of them come with free trials so you can test each one and choose what's best for you. Although you won't have to be King Geek to install and set up your firewall, there are some adjustments and settings that will have to be tweaked. All of the better firewall programs come with decent instructions and many of the products have help available at their web site.

If you notice that some program that used to work stops working after you install a fire wall then you'll have to make a change in the fire wall's configuration that will enable the program to operate freely. If you find that there is no way to let your previously operating program pass through the firewall then that might be a good indication that you need to try a different fire wall. Be sure to check with the makers of both the software program and the firewall before you give up and change.

Copyright © 2004 Cavyl Stewart. Discover 52 Ways To Do More With Software by signing up for my exclusive Free ecourse. Get resources, tips, reviews and recommendations you can use right now to help you achieve more, easier, and cheaper! 100% Original content. Visit: http://www.find-small-business-softwa re.com/52ways.html

---

Instant Messenger Clients

If you have been using the Internet for any amount... Read More

Industry Experts Answer the One Million-dollar Question - Why Genie Backup Manager?

Many reasons made GBM a unanimous choice for experts, one... Read More

How to Evaluate Staffing Software

If you are in the market for new staffing software,... Read More

What is Groupware?

Vince Lombardi once said that, "The achievements of an organization... Read More

Intro to UNIX Shells

A UNIX Shell is in simplest terms, a command line... Read More

Two Reasons to Use Timesheet Software

This short paper will expand on two key reasons to... Read More

Software Upgrades Arent Always the Best Move

When my daughter was getting into AOL instant messaging (AIM)... Read More

Benefits of Shareware

Shareware has been fighting the stigma of being misunderstood for... Read More

MySQL for Beginners ? How to Create a MySQL Database

Whether you are an experienced web programmer or a complete... Read More

Crystal Reports - Geterogeneus databases: SQL Server, Oracle, Unidata, Btrieve ? Tips For Developer

Crystal Reports is the most flexible tool on the market... Read More

Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software is used to find, remove or fix files... Read More

Microsoft CRM Data Conversion FAQ

Microsoft Business Solutions CRM data conversion deserves FAQ type of... Read More

Keeping Track

One of the things we can be as certain of... Read More

MCP Market News: Microsoft SQL Server & SQL Reporting Services

Are you ready? SQL Server 2005, the next-generation data management... Read More

Navision Attain Database access via C/ODBC in ASP.NET Application

Navision Software was purchased by Microsoft and now it is... Read More

Microsoft CRM Implementation & Remote Support

We would like to give you pluses and minuses of... Read More

Do You Want Your Own Fully Programmable ERP? - Part 1

We are in a transition phase in the Managerial Administration... Read More

Computer Based Language Development and Spell-checking

Language development computer: Computer-based method for aiding language development seems... Read More

Free Software - Powerful Alternatives to Budget-Busting Software

When you buy a computer, it most likely comes with... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains: Manufacturing or Bill of Materials - Overview for IT Specialist

Microsoft Great Plains is main Microsoft Business Solutions product, targeted... Read More

Guide to Software Marketing

Intro This concise article will tell you in plain English... Read More

Groupware: What Works the Way Businesses Do?

GroupwareThe internet is full of 1.5 million to 7 million... Read More

Implementing Microsoft CRM: setup and configuration ? notes for IT specialist

Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is web-based CRM application, deploying all... Read More

The Top 5 Wrong Reasons For Not Hiring Testers

Considering whether or not your software company should hire a... Read More

Screenplay and Script Writing Software

When it comes to screenplay software each screenwriter needs to... Read More

Introduction To ISDN, Part II

In the previous ISDN article, we looked at how and... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics on Pervasive SQL.2000 Data Repair ? Overview For DBAs

Some introduction into Great Plains Software products, now Microsoft Business... Read More

Making The Decision To Automate Your Software Testing

Not every software testing project can or should be automated.... Read More

An Easy Way to Develop JAVA Enterprise Applications

Research bears that less than 70 percent of development projects... Read More

The End of Spyware?

The US House of Representatives has recently passed the "Spy... Read More

Adware, What Is It?

Adware is a type of Spyware program that displays some... Read More

Linux Dual Boot-How To Format

Just the thought of a duel-boot scares many people away,... Read More

20 Extra Hours Per Week: What Would You Do?

While I was in college, if you would have asked... Read More