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Use a Firewall
To protect your computer from Internet intruders, it is crucial to use a firewall. Available in hardware and software versions, a firewall acts like a cloaking device to hide your computer from the watchful eyes of online criminals. A firewall also can filter the data that enters your computer, control Internet cookies, and warn you when sinister spyware programs try to transmit data about you over the Web. There are numerous, respected brands of hardware and software firewalls to choose from, each of which will probably suit your needs.
Note
For enhanced protection, use a hardware firewall in combination with a software firewall. If you have two or more computers networked together, using dual firewalls should stop one of the computers from spreading a worm across the network and infecting the other computers. Even if you only have one computer, using both types of firewalls together doesn’t harm anything and gives you increased protection and control of the type of information your computer broadcasts over the Web.
Hardware Firewalls
These are available as stand-alone devices that sit between your computer and the Internet, and they come as a built-in feature of most routers (which are devices used to network computers together to share files and an Internet connection).
Even if you have only one computer in your home or office, a router is a good, inexpensive investment, because you never know when you may purchase an additional computer and want to set up a network. Here are some popular brands of routers (in no particular order):
• Linksys BEFSR41 or BEFSX41
• NetGear RP614
• D-Link DI-604
Software Firewalls
In addition to offering many of the same features as a hardware firewall, a software firewall can alert you when a digital threat like spyware tries to connect to the Internet and transmit your data to online marketers. Also, most software firewalls let you choose which programs can or cannot access the Web. Many reputable software manufacturers have software firewalls available.
Free Firewalls
The following firewall packages are available for free:
• Windows Firewall: A reliable, free firewall known as Windows Firewall is included with Windows XP Service Pack 2. If your computer does not have any other software firewall installed, then Windows Firewall automatically and silently runs in the background to protect you. Although the Windows Firewall will sufficiently protect you from inbound threats that attempt to penetrate your computer, it will not alert you about any outbound threats that try to use your Internet connection. For that reason, it is not recommended.
• ZoneAlarm Free Version: This is one of the best software firewalls — and it won’t cost you a cent. Not only does it protect against inbound and outbound threats, but it also gives you total command over the programs that are allowed to access the Internet. To download it, visit http://www.zonelabs.com or search for it at http://www.download.com
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