Firewalls sound dangerous, but in computer terms, they are a form of protection against viruses, malware, spyware and other harmful programs from invading your computer. Firewalls are a cyber criminal's worst enemy because they cannot steal important data from their victims.

But how does a firewall protect your computer?

A firewall monitors devices for any untrusted programs and websites. If a user comes across a website with suspicious activity, the firewall will prevent the user from further access.

There are several different types of firewalls, and they are.

1. Proxy firewall: A proxy firewall is the first layer of firewalls. This type of firewall detects any threats and stops them from reaching the network.
2. Stateful inspection firewall: These types of firewalls permit or block connections based on the user. Stateful inspection firewalls also utilize prior user activity to decide whether or not to stop the link. 
3. Unified threat management: This type of firewall uses several protection applications to protect your computer. These can include anti-virus and malware programs, VPNs (Virtual Private Network) and network keys. 
4. Next-generation firewall (NGFW): Most companies use NGFWs to stop advanced malware programs and attacks. 
5. Threat-focused NGFW: A threat-focused NGFW specifically targets anything that could pose harm to a system network. 

Most computers come with a firewall program. For Windows, it is Microsoft Defender Firewall. To find a firewall on Windows, click on the Windows icon, open Settings, then go to Privacy and Security to turn on Defender. 

To find your firewall on Mac, go to System Preferences, select Security and Privacy, then click Firewall. Be sure to click the lock icon to make any changes.

Firewalls may interrupt some trusted applications. You can fix this on both operating systems by making a list of trusted applications to prevent the firewall from blocking them.

Anti-virus programs may also come with some firewalls. It would be best to keep both firewalls in place to protect your computer. 

So, in the end. Firewalls are put in place to protect our computers from cyber criminals wanting to steal our information. Remember to visit secured websites and never open e-mails from suspicious senders or click on unfamiliar links. 

If you accidentally clicked on one of these links or opened an infected e-mail. Run a virus scan right away. Chances are you can catch the virus before it infects your system. But if you end up with a deep system virus, the Computer Geek can help you. We'll get rid of that nasty virus and malware. So you can go back to watching cat videos and surfing the net. 

For more information on firewalls or anything else computer related, such as websites, visit our website or call us at (905)426-1784. We are available seven days a week, including holidays.