A firewall is a non-flammable wall that prevents fires from spreading in a building. In computer networks, firewalls act as a barrier between computers, essential for companies and individuals with a permanent internet connection. They can come in the form of hardware or software and work with a series of filters that constantly monitor traffic on the network. Broadband routers can act as a firewall, but a software firewall can further strengthen it. For more information, visit the link in the source section.
In construction, a firewall is a non-flammable wall that prevents fires from spreading in a building. Homes, for example, may have a firewall between the garage and the rest of the house to prevent garage fires from threatening other rooms.
With the rapid spread of the Internet, the term firewall is more commonly used in computer networks. Like the firewalls used in homes and buildings, computer firewalls act as a barrier between computers on a network. For companies with a computer network or for individuals with a permanent connection to the Internet (such as via DSL or cable), a firewall is essential. Without a firewall, intruders on your network would likely be able to destroy, tamper with, or access files on your computer.
Firewalls can come in the form of hardware or software. Without going into the intricate details of how firewalls work, suffice it to say that they work with a series of filters that constantly monitor traffic on the network. Every time a packet of information triggers one of the filters, the firewall blocks it from passing in an attempt to prevent damage. Naturally, firewalls sometimes block the desired traffic, and through a continuous process of refinement, filters can be customized to improve their effectiveness.
Many computer users who access the Internet through a broadband router may already benefit from a firewall. The router itself can be configured to act as a firewall; any nefarious attacks from the network are blocked at the router thus saving any negative effects on the computer. Such a hardware firewall can be further strengthened with a secondary line of defense in the form of a software firewall; you can never be too safe when using the internet!
If you want more detailed information about firewalls, how they work or how to configure them, etc., visit the link provided in the source section below.
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