Personal Firewall Benefits

First of all, it is important to understand what a firewall’s purpose is.  A firewall is meant to protect a private network from outside attacks (e.g. Internet).  A firewall can consist of software or hardware.  A firewall sits between a private network and a public network (Vicomsoft Learning Center 2011-2014).

Next, it is important to understand what a firewall does.  It checks all traffic between private and public networks and checks to make sure the traffic meets a specific criteria.  The firewall will prevent traffic from entering the private network if it does not meet this criteria.  A firewall can include logging and/or triggering alerts when someone attempts to enter the private network with hostile intentions (Vicomsoft Learning Center 2011-2014).

Following are just some of the benefits of installing a personal firewall (Hooper n.d.):

• Monitors Traffic:  This feature monitors not only incoming traffic to a private network but also monitors outbound traffic.  This helps ensure that bad traffic neither enters nor exists a private network.
• Blocks Trojans:  A Trojan horse virus is where computer files have the virus attach to them.  Then when the files are sent out, this can end up impacting others who open those files.  A firewall prevents the Trojans from attaching themselves to files on the private network in the first place.
• Stops Hackers:  A firewall prevents someone from using a private network and/or computer to spread viruses.  An attack can not only come from a hacker but can also come from a neighbor if there is no protection against intrusions.
• Stops Keyloggers:  Keyloggers are spyware software that are placed onto a computer to capture keystrokes.  This type of attack allows attackers to access private accounts because the attacker gains access to user ID’s and passwords.  This is why a multifactor authentication to sensitive sites is so important to prevent this type of attack in addition to a personal firewall.

Another important way to protect a computer is securing wireless routers.  An unsecure router is like an open invitation for someone to try to attack a personal computer or network.  When a person is using a public WiFi, the best and first defense against an attack is a firewall.

Reference:

• Hooper, B. Demand Media (n.d.) What Are the Benefits of Firewall Security?  Retrieved from http://science.opposingviews.com/benefits-firewall-security-3806.html
• Vicomsoft Learning Center (2011 - 2014). Firewalls.  Retrieved from http://www.vicomsoft.com/learning-center/firewalls/