Define firewall
and state purpose of using this
Answers
Firewall is designed to prevent unauthorized to or from a private network.
its uses are
wall Protects Your Computer From Unauthorized Remote Access
One of the worst things that could happen to your computer is if someone attempts to take control remotely. Seeing the mouse move around on your monitor as a remote intruder usurps your digital kingdom, assuming control of your data, is petrifying.
Note, however, that this does not block the remote control apps used by the Windows tech support scammers. These are browser-based, and as your browser already has permission to route data through the firewall, you’ll continue to be susceptible to this particular risk, so remain vigilant!
Illegal copies Windows found on the Bittorrent networks often come with malware (Trojans, keyloggers, backdoors) preinstalled in the disk image. If you’re running one of these, even with a firewall installed, you’re likely to have security issues.
The MakeUseOf Guide to File Sharing Networks
Understand also that firewalls block access by apps — perhaps software that you trust — from unauthorized Internet access.
2. Firewalls Can Block Messages Linking to Unwanted Content
Yes, there are still people out there running Windows XP. Worse, some of them are using XP without a firewall, and the built-in firewall is not — wait for it — enabled by default.
Windows XP Security Risks: They're Real And Heading Your Way In 2014
You read that right. The Internet has a lot of bad code traversing the cyberspace, waiting to pounce on unprotected PCs. While your ISP can help prevent this, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to long-term.
3. Firewalls Make Online Gaming Safer
Online gaming is one of the most significant developments in the history of video games, but it is also a potential security risk. Various malware has been developed that targets online gamers, existing on unsecured or recently compromised game servers.
Note that security suites often ship with “Gaming Mode” or some other similar option pre-installed, which you can take advantage of before launching your favorite game. And if there are problems, you can consult the game’s support pages and edit the firewall application settings.
Console gamers can take advantage of hardware firewalls or routers if there is a requirement to edit settings.
4. You Can Block Unsuitable or Immoral Content With a Firewall
We’ve been talking mainly about blocking hackers and various types of remote access malware so far, but firewalls are capable of more than this. As well as protecting personal directories from ransomware, firewall applications might also feature the option to block particular online locations.
As alluded to above, firewalls don’t necessarily have to be software. Hardware firewalls are found in most homes, built into the router. Accessing these firewalls is possible by using the administrator credentials for the router (make sure you’ve changed the default password), and once you’ve signed in you should be able to review the options and change them if necessary.
But a Firewall Can’t Do Everything
With all of this in mind, it’s worth considering what a firewall cannot do. We’ve already mentioned malware, but this encompasses the whole gamut of Trojans, viruses, worms, etc. While a firewall should block backdoor access via a Trojan, there’s a likelihood that this can be bypassed.
But firewalls cannot tackle viruses, worms, keyloggers, and other malware. This is why a firewall must be used in conjunction with an anti-virus tool.
These days, the antivirus market is very difficult to navigate, so we suggest you take a look at our recommended list of anti-virus applications — standalone and entire security suites — and find one that will either complement your existing firewall, or include a new firewall.
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