Tier 2: Firewall

Welcome to my second tier of security.

A firewall basically stops other computer users from gaining access to your computer. You don’t even need to download information to be at risk, hackers of this type scan for unprotected computers using automated programs.

These hackers can be stopped by: A firewall.

Hackers of this type can: Take control of your entire computer and do what they wish to it, use your internet connection and i.p. address to attack other users (further spreading the attacks), hack into personal information on your computer such as pictures, passwords, credit cards, email, and banking information.

I recommend Zone Alarm because it is free and by far the best firewall I have ever had. Besides that program, a hardware firewall is installed in routers (wireless or wired) and can ASSIST software, but I don’t recommend relying on just a router and many people don’t have one to begin with. Zone Alarm is a hefty program and most users will need to read the users manual to understand the functionality of some things. Basically after install whenever you use a program dealing with the internet Zone Alarm will pop up asking if you want the program to connect. If you trust the program you can check the “remember this action” button and never deal with that popup for that program. Looking at my own install of Zone Alarm the program tells me I have had 32660 intrusions blocked, 7585 of them have been high rated. 97841 access attempts have been made. These numbers may be slightly higher because I am working from a school network and hackers like to target schools because the students are often without firewalls.

More information is now on my website including recommendations of pay software.