Network Firewalls

Removing viruses and spyware from your PC is big business these days. It's so big that it has overshadowed basic network security practices. Installing a firewall on your LAN is essential to protect your PC from online exploits, and casual snoops. This article suggests some simple firewall solutions that will give your PCs instant stealth from hackers scanning the Internet for exposed computers.

Firewall Options

Firewalls come in two distinct flavors: Hardware and software. Most of us will use a hardware firewall in the form of a router. Since we're sharing Internet access with multiple PCs on our LAN, a router becomes the firewall. The router will have a single IP address seen by everyone on the Internet, and it will have an internal IP address visible by your LAN. Since the Internet can only see the router, the PCs behind the router are protected. Routers will generally need very little configuration. but if you are an experienced network admin, you will want to go in and further restrict access to certain PCs or block certain ports.

If you do not have a router, or if you are on dial-up and feel no need to add additional connections, a software firewall might be the best choice for you. The software fire will block unsolicited attempts to access your PC from the Internet, and will provide your PC with a certain degree of stealth from malicious scans.

When you first install the software firewall, it'll need to learn what you want to give access to the Internet. For instance, the first time you launch IE, it will ask if it's okay for Internet Explorer to access the Internet. This process is relatively painless, but very necessary. You may also occasionally get a request by an unknown program asking for Internet access. While this is usually a benign Windows process, it might also be a Trojan or worm. If you do not know what the program is, try and research it before saying YES. Granting access to your LAN or the Internet for whatever programs ask for it renders the software firewall useless.

1. 169 IP Address
2. Update Your D-Link Router Firmware
3. Configure Static IP Address
4. Renew Your IP Address
5. Router Setup and Configuration
6. Windows Remote Desktop Setup
7. Wireless Zero Configuration
8. Home Network Setup
9. LAN Party Setup
10. Setting Up A VPN Remote Connection
11. WiFi Security
12. Internet Connection Sharing
13. Wireless Network Setup
14. Configure WPA Wireless Connection
15. Is VoIP Internet Phone For Me?
16. Wireless Network Standards
17. RJ45 Network Interface Cards