This is software that blocks or allows incoming signals from the web or network into your
computer. There are also external hardware
Firewall routers most commonly found in
DSL/Cable routers
There are entire books that describe firewall/router devices related to networking environments,
this article will explain the general functions of the local firewall service built into the Windows operating system to insure your computer is protected.
The windows firewall service running locally on a wired computer, and more
importantly running on a wireless laptops that join public wireless networks,
is critical to keep your system and data safe from prying eyes.
The firewall service described here is the local software running on the computer
itself and doesn't protect any other computers you might have in the home
or business on the network, each computer has the ability to manage its own firewall
settings and should be checked occasionally, however the very best protection
is to actually have a firewall device usually built in to new
DSL or Cable Routers and
even those settings need to be checked.
With a hardware firewall device your entire home or business network can be
protected by closing off the pin hole ports at the entry point to your network before
reaching the computers. More cable or DSL providers are now supplying their
customers with firewall routers. If you only have a dial up or cable modem
to the internet make sure your computers firewall service is turned on!
In any event a Firewall service whether its the windows built in firewall or a hardware
device is important to stop access to the ports in your computer.
Every computer has listening ports, sometimes referred to as pin holes built in to
its very design. In networking environments (the world wide web for example) the
web browser couldn't couldn't function without the standard port 80 on your computer
being opened to the web allowing it to send and receive web requests and have fun
surfing. These listening ports are exposed to the wired or wireless network the computer is connected
to. There are many ports on your computer, some of the standard ports listen
for web requests, printer requests, others listen for email requests, others listen for Instant Messaging,
common ports are also opened by PC gamers playing internet games over the web. Some
of these ports are necessary for your computer to communicate and are safe to
have open, other ports can leave holes in your security.
These ports listen for a variety of requests passing by on the network and by default
without the firewall running they are all open to the web and some of those ports
can be accessed by clever hackers trying to get into your computer either to steal
your identity take over your computer or install malicious software. They start
by obtaining your computers.
IP Address.
then using that address to gain access to your system.
When logged on to the world wide web, or even just turning on your computer that
is connected to an always on DSL or CABLE service, not having the Windows firewall
turned on will allow much easier access to your computer. Windows turns on
the firewall by default, however this firewall can be turned off or modified by
users, viruses, or other programs like games and instant messaging services installed
on your computer. You can check if your firewall is turned on or not and which ports
are opened by following these steps.
The easiest route to the firewall settings is Go to Start, Control Panel, switch
to classic view upper left hand corner, then look for Firewall in the list of icons.
Click on this to see the General tabs firewall settings. If the firewall is turned on your PC
is protected at the basic level. If the Don't allow exceptions
tab is checked, then your computer is completely locked down. By default windows
allows port 80 for web browsing. Many times exceptions are necessary for programs
such as instant messaging.
You will also notice the exceptions tab which allows you to open ports to the firewall
service. To see which ports are open on your firewall click the Exceptions tab.
Depending on what you have installed on your computer you may have nothing on this
list to several items or more. You can click on an item to view its properties,
description and see the port number that is opened, you can check your list of programs
and double check that the ports match. If you find an open port that you don't recognize,
you can find a common list of port numbers here to see what its being used for.
If you still don't recognize it, temporarily disable it by unchecking it. If it
turns out an application of yours actually needed that port open you can always
enable the port again. It's safer to know why a particular port might be open.
Most users shouldn't need to modify these settings unless you are a gamer needing
access to other ports or a super user needing a custom port setting to allow
remote access or other task. View the networking article to learn more about port
settings.
If the firewall settings on your computer have been grayed out you may not
have administrator rights or it's possible
your computer is running software like McAfee Enterprise Security suite or other firewall service
that is controlling the firewall service and has disabled the Windows firewall.
In that case use the appropriate program to modify or view the firewall settings.
Keep it cleaned up and I'll know you'll be happy.