Is there a free Firewall for a computer?

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

I'm not exactly sure what a firewall does (protects from others getting at your stuff I guess!!)

Is there any free firewall protection??

TIA

 

[GregGH]

firewall info

Hello

You can get a 'hardware' firewall or a 'software' firewall. Chances are you already have one and just don't have it turned on. Windows 98 I think had on - just didn;t make it 'on' by default - as it would cuase too many problems with users who don't understand.

Windows XP has a built in firewall as does Mac osX. You can also improve your security by using a router between your hi-speed internet ( which is usually always turned on - hence more of the problem ) modem and your computer ...but change the default user name and set a password ( many don't do this -- software on routers is getting better and routers are cheap - if you don;t need wireless - don't get it or turn it off or at least set the security to WEP or WAP and remember oyur password)

I am biased towards the Mac as there are far fewer potential problems - but with extra effort you can keep your windows machine up to date ( hint - turn on your automatic updates - Microsoft has lots of holes to plug and they do it very often.

A firewall is like a wall with a few holes ...without holes you wouldn't be able to see and get any info on the internet - for example you will open a 'port' like 80 so you can see web based html data ...there are 65,000 or so ports - of which you only need a handful.

Go to wikipedia.com and seach for firewall -- after a while you will see a pattern on the info and you will get smarter - the smarter you are - the less likely you will have someone get into your computer and do any number of things - such as use it to send spam e-mail to others ( using YOUR computer )

Hope this help - it is not an easy thing to learn - there is NO easy solution especially with a windows machine as 'hackers' love to work hard to exploit the 'problems' in the operating system

Regards
Greg H

 

[SailBadtheSinner]

I'm using ZoneAlarms (free edition) for about 2-3 years. Have not had a problem since I installed it. Here's the link because they hide it well if you go directly to the site.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en

if that URL is too long, try here: http://tinyurl.com/c2jj2


SBtS

 

[Don]

Windows has a firewall located in the Control Panel on an XP Media Center system. You might have to turn it on. If you have a Security suite program, it might keep the Windows Firewall turned off in favor of its own.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

WOW---pretty complicated for me.
I'm glad I didn't ask this question when I first got online in 1998---my head would have been spinning!!

I am running XP---so how do I find out if it's
'there', 'on', etc.

Thanks,
Pat

 

[Makai Guy]

WOW---pretty complicated for me.
I'm glad I didn't ask this question when I first got online in 1998---my head would have been spinning!!

I am running XP---so how do I find out if it's
'there', 'on', etc.

Thanks,
Pat

Go down to Windows 'start', normally at the left end of your task bar at the bottom of the page. Click that, then:

Control Panel | Security Center

Click the "Windows Firewall" item at the bottom of the page. The resulting screen will tell you whether Windows Firewall is on or off, and allow you to change the setting.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

Go down to Windows 'start', normally at the left end of your task bar at the bottom of the page. Click that, then:

Control Panel | Security Center

Click the "Windows Firewall" item at the bottom of the page. The resulting screen will tell you whether Windows Firewall is on or off, and allow you to change the setting.

Doug,

Now, THAT was easy for me to grasp!!!

The
'Firewall'
'Automatic Updates' and
'Virus Protection'

are all GREEN / they are all 'ON'.

(Believe it or not, I'm a dinosaur----I STILL have DIAL-UP!!!)

I also have AVG, which has served me well for a few years
now, and Updates are frequent and easy. ( I recently downloaded their 7.5 version.) It slows down my computer usage a little when updates are taking place---but no hassle really at all---I like it.

SO, am I ALL SET?

Thanks,
Pat