Firewalls
A firewall is a protective system, either software or hardware, which protects your computer from unauthorised access. It is a 'wall' between you and the internet, and controls who is allowed to access the information you hold on your machine. It can also control when programs on your computer are allowed to access the internet and will notify you if your machine is trying to access the internet in a suspicious manner.
How do I know if I have a firewall installed?
Windows XP has a firewall and with Service Pack 2 that firewall will be turned on by default. If you already have Service Pack 2 installed, check the firewall is activated (or if your updates are set to automatically download), by:
Go to Start, click on Settings, then Control Panel, then Security Center. Here you can check on both the firewall and the updates status.
If you don't have Service Pack 2 installed:
Go to Start, move across to Connect to and right click on your internet connection and choose Properties. Click on the Advanced tab and make sure there is a tick in the box for Internet Connection Firewall.
To check if you have another firewall package installed:
Go to Start, click on Programs, and look for the name on the list. Alternatively you can look for a firewall icon on your task bar by pausing on each of the icons in the bottom.
Why do you need to install a firewall?
When you are online with a broadband connection and without a firewall, the average time until you are compromised is about 12-14 minutes. However, if you have a slower dial-up internet connection the chances are that you cannot download a free firewall fast enough on the internet before an attack. Thus it is better to install a free firewall from a disc a friend has made for you, or to purchase a firewall package from a computer retailer or activate the firewall that came with your computer (instructions above).
It is fine to re-new your software license online while your protection is still active. Paying for it with your credit card means using the same caution you would for any secure transaction (such as knowing the vendor is trustworthy, looking for the padlock and 'https' at the beginning of the website URL to indicate a safe, encrypted transaction, etc).
A firewall is also important if you are chatting or gaming online to protect your computer from attack while using these services.
Here is a list of possible firewall providers. Sometimes the firewalls are bundled with other computer security software.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/
http://www.iss.net/products/networkice/eval/
http://www.tinysoftware.com/home/tiny2?|a=EN
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_pro.htm
Xtra (www.xtra.co.nz) now provide a monthly subscription service via McAfee, which provides not only a firewall but also anti-virus and anti-spyware protection for a low monthly fee.
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