In article <0001HW.BB64FF59009EB354F0284600@news.usenetserver.com>,
Earl J. <nothing@here.net> wrote:
> > You will need to install a firewall to protect you from attack from the
> > internet. There are two kinds, software and hardware. Hardware is more
> > secure but difficult to configure the limited options. WindowsXP
> > includes a software firewall, but the best one is ZoneAlarm. There is a
> > free version. It will take some study to learn how to use it, but so
> > does everything else with computers.
> >
> >
> > Y Not
>
> I use a little piece of hardware called a broadband gateway. It was pretty
> easy to configure, you use any browser software to access the control panels.
> I entered the DNS and IP information provided by Comcast into the gateway,
> then it uses Network Address Translation to share that single IP connection
> with any number of connections in my house (I use a simple 6-port hub, but
> you could get much more complex). My home network is completely invisible to
> the outside world, though there are many advanced configuration options in
> the gateway that allow limited 2-way access, like if I was hosting a website
> from a server in my house, for example.
>
> Some kind of firewall is absolutely essential, especially when using a cable
> provider (your entire neighborhood is essentially one Local Area Network).
> Any prankster or serious hacker with software as common as "PC Anywhere" can
> get into your computer from anywhere on the internet if you don't protect
> yourself.
>
> Earl
Some more information:
"a little piece of hardware called a broadband gateway" is a network
router that allows you to share the internet connection with all the
computers on your home network. It will translate and hide the IP
addresses of your computers, and acts as a firewall. I use one, and
many of my clients do also. But there is one thing that a *software*
firewall program can do that a hardware router firewire can't do;
detect internet connection attempts by programs that are on your
computer. There are programs, some called "spyware" that will attempt
to use the internet to transmit your personal information to others.
Even some normal expensive programs like to phone home to check for
pirate serial numbers and to keep track what you do with the programs.
Most people don't like this invasion of their privacy. A software
firewall program can prevent any internet connection from your computer
that you don't authorize.
Y Not
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