firewall?

[nickel]

please excuse my computer illiteracy, but i thought someone could help me with this simple question.

what exactly does installing a firewall on your computer protect you from?

tia

[Nija]

people violating your holes

Basiclly, there are open ports on your computer, that a firewall will cover-up. It will leave some open ports that are usually used, like the http, ftp, etc. etc.

howsdat?

[nickel]

Nija-Lou, i said i wasn't very computer-wise

do you know what this means?
"a saliolith can cause swelling of stentson's duct"

see i have an area of expertise, too

if i have a firewall installed on my computer, in layman's term please, what does that do for me? what ports does it close exactly?

[rajatQ2]

Originally posted by nickelback


if i have a firewall installed on my computer, in layman's term please, what does that do for me? what ports does it close exactly?

It should block all open ports, except for the ones you specify as ports you want open.

Windows has many bugs, which are uncovered constantly. the bugs are frequently means for which someone can hack into your machine. They can do this through an open port if the setup is right. The firewall usually blocks all such incoming data.

[nickel]

ah, i see
thanks

[Markel]

A decent firewall (ZoneAlarm comes to mind, which is often regarded as the best free firewall available) will also block any process from sending any outbound data unless you give that executable permission to do so. This can keep Trojans, etc., from being able to send data unawares. The basic rule is that if you have a broadband connection to the internet (dsl, cable, etc.) you had better have a firewall (since your IP address usually is static or somewhat static), which makes you more of a target for hacking attempts. If you dialup, you get a different IP address every time you connect, making you less likely (but not invulnerable) to become a target.