Firewall
Keeping out Hackers
Unwanted Intrusions
When your computer system or network is connected to the internet, the traffic is two way. It receives traffics from a variety of sources such as a web page you have downloaded or an instant message sent to you. Your 'front door' is wide open, and any information no matter how personal or confidential can be grabbed by others using special computer programs.
If you use a broadband connection which is "always-on", such as ADSL, you are even more vulnerable, because your system can be accessed from the net even when you are away from your machine! These intruders can be the merely curious or the criminally minded.
A "Firewall"
If you don't want intruders examining your hard disc contents or wandering all over your office network, you need to install a firewall. This protects your system by controlling which traffic it allows to and from the internet and which it blocks. Most ADSL (broadband) routers include a built-in firewall which will work quietly away whilst 'hiding' the Internet addresses of computers connected to it.
For additional security you may want to install a 'Personal Firewall' on the individual PCs. There is one included with Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack 2, which again works unobtrusively in the background. Alternatively you may wish to purchase one of the many commercially available firewalls. These give varying degrees of control and warn when particular programs are attempting to communicate with the internet. You control the 'height' - the degree of security - at which to set the wall, and thus 'train' the program over time.
Córas IT are resellers for AVG products including AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall and AVG Internet Security; and we would be pleased to install this and ensure that your system is reasonably protected from hackers. Contact us for more information. Alternatively purchase your copy direct from AVG by clicking the box below.
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