The Xp Firewall Isnt Enough
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You might think you don't need a firewall because windows XP has onebuilt in,but read on for a plain-english explanation why this isn't enough.
Before broadband and cable connections were common most people didn't need apersonal firewall because they weren't connected to the Internet for extendedperiods of time.
Every computer that connects to the internet has an IP address. This is likea sort of phone number, and is issued either to an individual computer or toa "gateway" that connects a private network to the 'net.
Domestic dial-up internet connections normally use a system called DynamicIP Addressing where people are issued with a sort of "new identity" everytime they connect, so it's difficult to find and attack an individual computer- Dynamic IP addressing is a bit like having your phone number change everytime you use the phone, which makes it difficult for the bad guys to find you.
But the longer you keep a particular "phone number" the more chancethere is of someone finding you and that is why high-speed always-on connectionsneed handling with care.
In particular, with "always on" DSL and cable connections you areconnected for extended periods of time which give the attackers more chanceof finding you if you've got an unprotected connection.
In these days of identity theft and with more and more security holes beinguncovered in commercial software it is vital that you have a good firewallif you use a high-speed connection.
You may already have a firewall, either in a device called a "BroadbandRouter" which goes between your computer and the Internet or the verybasic firewall built in to Windows XP Service Pack 2 and you might think that'sall you need.
But there's another reason that you won't have thought of.
Basic firewalls will tell you, and hopefully protect you if someone is tryingto get in.... but they won't tell you if something is trying to get out!
That's right! Certain spyware and viruses can gather your personal informationand send it out of your machine without you knowing.
A good firewall will spot these attempts to send stuff out and will warn you,quite possibly before your Antivirus or Spyware application notices the problem.Which gives you time to get the problem fixed.
Steve Blampied lives in Jersey in the Channel Islands and has been anindependent IT consultant for around 10 years.
He is currently putting together a web site solely about free software.
http://www.freesoftwareadvice.com
He also has a small IT company in Jersey.
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