Putting Out the Flames Russellville AR

Posted by : Maggie Biggs

The term firewall conjures up visions of a barrier that blocks flames from spreading from one area to another.

In a sense the term is appropriate; a firewall--either a hardware device or a piece of software--controls access between your computer or network and other networks, such as the Internet. Unlike a conventional firewall, a network firewall doesn't close off all access to an area, it lets some traffic through while blocking access to other traffic. Perhaps a better way to think of a firewall is a wall of hydrants on a large skyscraper. Each hydrant represents a port. Just as firefighters connect hoses to some of the hydrants while leaving others unused, so network administrators allow users to connect to specified ports while blocking access to others. In both cases, only authorized personnel can access the on/off mechanisms.

In firewall terminology, your computer or network is considered "trusted" while other networks, like the Internet, are considered "untrusted." Most firewall solutions use rules to manage what activity is and isn't allowed. The rules you set up can enable your company to work with another business, keep your young kids off the Internet, or keep hackers out. Each port can have authorized or unauthorized uses. The trick is to enable authorized traffic without compromising the security of your network.

Given the increasing frequency and sophistication of unauthorized uses, if your computer connects to othe...

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