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Securing Your Internet Connection: Firewall Software for Windows

In order to properly secure your internet connection, and thus secure your operating system, you really need to consider having fireware software for Windows.  This is especially true for dial-up internet users, because you don't have the luxury of a hardware firewall.

Firewall software is designed to protect your operating system and applications against attacks both incoming and outgoing.  There are a lot of malicious programs out there that want to get in, but there are also a lot that want to get out.  The outgoing are far more scary, because they might be sending personal or even financial data to undisclosed recipients for whatever purpose.

Previously, in the hardware firewall section, we talked about stealth mode firewalls.  Well this applies not only to hardware firewalls, but also firewall software for Windows. 

The firewall software that comes with Windows does NOT include stealth mode support.  I definately don't recommend relying on it to protect your PC.

Just as a referesher, PC connections to the Internet are similar to someone that comes to your door and knocks.  You can open the door if you think it's safe, leave it closed and chat thru the door, or just pretend you're not home. 

Opening the door for a stranger would be similar to an open port, where a hacker can easily slip in unnoticed.  Althgouth talking to the stranger through the door is safer, it's still not that secure.  This would be similar to a closed port.  This is still a problem because the computer hacker is aware of your presence, and might decide to come back at later date and time to get in.  The third scenario, however, is similar to there being no PC at all.  Thus, the third scenario is the course of action because a hacker will simply ignore you altogether.  This third scenario is what we call stealth mode.

You may already have internet firewall software for Windows you're running on your box (if you're running any at all), but as far as I'm concerned, the only company that has done a really good job of this, and definately the software you need to download and install on your box is ZoneAlarm, so if you don't have a copy, get one, and if you already have something else, I recommend you uninstall it and get get the right firewall software.  This should only take you a few minutes and after a reboot, you'll be good as gold.

Oh, and again, once you do have your firewall software for Windows installed, you can perform a simple test to see if your firewall is running in stealth mode.  You can use the following internet security test to check your "STEALTHINESS". 

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