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September 3, 2005
Do You Need a Firewall?
With the literal proliferation of world-wide attacks on current vulnerabilities in Microsoft-based operating systems I don’t know about you but I feel pretty safe and secure every time I turn on my computer at home. Okay, all kidding aside, during this article we’ll learn about three things you can do to better e-protect you and your computer.
If you’re not already doing it, the first thing you can do, if you’re bent on protecting yourself as you do your web-surfing or even when you are just typing away that long neglected killer email to Grandma, is to make a good ‘firewall’ a vital part of your computer system.
“What God's green earth is a firewall?” you ask? Good question my dear e-reader.
The easiest description I saw of one of these puppies was during one of the afternoon cartoon shows my kids watch. One of the cartoon characters was sucked into a computer and wasn’t able to make it into the guts of the computer because he came up against a huge, wide and tall, wall of fire just roaring away in front of him and essentially blocking his path beyond it. [He also yelled out “Oh no! A firewall!” so it was crystal clear (to all the kiddies watching) what this object was.]
But just to make sure that we’re on the same brain wavelength – firewalls aren’t really like this. You see, real firewalls come as either: a good piece of software installed in the computer [e.g. ZoneAlarm or BlackICE (just note that any software program is not foolproof)], or as actual hardware installed outside the computer [like a simple and relatively inexpensive (<$75) Linksys router. I know, I know - it used to be that a router was just a thing that Dad used as he worked in his garage workshop. But no more.]
But no matter which type is installed, a firewall still can save one a whole heap of e-grief before some techie wiener’s computer bug finds its way into one’s computer system – usually without one’s knowledge.
So, do what you can to protect yourself while you’re using that technological (black) box of wonder sitting in that back office at home because using it without some form of e-protection against cyber-tampering is kind of like going on that trip without that spare set of underwear Mom always packed for you. Remember? You never knew when you were going to need it but when you did need it, you were sure glad you had it.
And with the Net being a potentially invasive e-monster if left to its own devices, that is oh-so-much truer today. Make your Mom proud - get that firewall installed. Software or hardware. Just do it, eh?
Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com - Learn About Life From Another Perspective
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Posted by Andre Best at September 3, 2005 1:59 PM
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