Firewalls Protect Your Computer:  Stop Hackers and Internet Attacks 

By Jaime Sneider

A firewall should be your first line of defense against pernicious hackers trying to access your business’ private information. And compared to the cost of recovering lost data, it is an inexpensive and easy way for you to help protect your electronic infrastructure.

Simply put, a firewall is a system designed to prevent unauthorized access to a private computer or network. Once installed, all activity to and from your computer system and the outside world travels through it, providing a vital opportunity to monitor any suspicious activity. There are two major types of firewalls: software and hardware.

Hardware firewalls are separate pieces of equipment that sit between the Internet connection and the company’s computer network. The software on that equipment is the firewall that filters traffic. In addition to, or in place of, a hardware firewall, you can use a software firewall, which is software loaded onto each computer that screens traffic to and from that particular computer.

Any business that has an always-on connection to the Internet should seriously consider purchasing some kind of firewall. Small business firewall equipment can run as low as $150 and will help you to do the following:

¥ Hide your computer so that hackers can’t see it.

¥ Block Internet attacks and prevent outside users from hijacking your bandwidth without your permission.

¥ Stop your employees from using nonapproved channels such as instant messages, e-mail programs, and unauthorized software.

Firewalls can also serve an important auditing function for computer administrators by cataloging Internet traffic. They can record information about break-in attempts that can help pinpoint a hacker’s geographic location and even perhaps identity. Just as many businesses employ security guards to protect their physical premises, they should use firewalls to safeguard their computer system and electronic information.

It may not be necessary to own a firewall if your business uses a dial-up line for Internet access and is connected for only short periods of time. In addition, if your computer network is never connected to the Internet or any other external network, a firewall is superfluous.

You should also keep in mind what firewalls cannot do. They are not a substitute for virus detection software, which should be installed regardless of other security measures. They cannot stop employees from putting sensitive information on a disk and leaving the office with it. And firewalls are not a one-stop solution for everything, but they will help quash certain threats to your business.