Firewall Software: What to Look For

In 2004, there were 37.9 million subscribers to high-speed Internet access companies, according to the Federal Communications Commission. The same report found that 99 percent of the U.S. population now has access to broadband.
Computers with high-speed access are linked directly to the World Wide Web. Hackers using automated programs attempt to locate and penetrate these computers. Firewalls are often times all that stands between the hacker and your computer.

Every home computer with a high-speed connection should have a firewall. While just under two thirds (63%) of U.S. Internet users do employ firewalls, better than a third still do not, according to a recent study conducted for the Business Software Alliance by Forrester Custom Consumer Research.

Firewalls may be described as a door with a lock on both sides. Only those given a key — granted access — can enter or leave. The computer’s owner decides what activities or programs should be granted access and which should not. Many programs, like anti-virus software or the computer’s operating system, are granted full access in order to be updated automatically. Other programs — such as spyware that tries to send out potentially sensitive information or hacker-automated programs trying to enter — can’t break through the firewall because access has not been granted.

Your high-speed Internet company may tell you that the installed hardware to connect your computer to the Web offers firewall protection. The same is true for manufacturers of wireless routers. Check the manual that came with the hardware to ensure the firewall is turned on. It may not be. Experts agree hardware protection is good, but it may not be enough.
Every computer with an Internet connection should have a software firewall installed and be configured to grant and deny access. Many home systems are sold with firewall software included. All the computer owner has to do is configure the software to be protected. If the system did not come with firewall software, it can usually be purchased at a store or online for under $50.

The configuration of firewall software may be tedious because the computer’s owner is asked to decide which programs or activities should be granted or denied access. The terms used during the setup process may be unfamiliar, and computer owners understandably do not want to make a mistake. You may want to contact the firewall company and ask for assistance in setting up the software; the support technicians will walk you through the process. Once the firewall software is set up, however, it operates in the background with only an occasional pop-up screen, asking if a program or activity should be granted or denied access.

Recently, some of the anti-virus software companies have begun selling all-in-one bundles, combining anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software. These packages can be found for less than $100. Don’t hesitate to ask your local computer retailer for a recommendation.

Hackers are always trying to discover and then exploit vulnerabilities in the leading operating systems on the market. Firewalls cannot protect you from these “backdoor” operating system hacking jobs. The operating systems’ companies close these security gaps by offering software patches for free download. Computer owners should either enable automatic download of these patches, or on a regular basis, visit the company’s Web site to see if a new patch is available.  Most people prefer the automatic downloads because it is both convenient and timely. If it isn’t already configured for this, the firewall software may ask if the operating system downloads should be granted access. The answer is “Yes.”