A firewall is a barrier to keep viruses, worms, and spyware away from your computer. With the use of filters, the firewall examines the information coming through your Internet connection. If any of the information is flagged by the filters as being dangerous to the computer, it is not allowed through. Firewalls are excellent for a first line of defense in protecting your computer from future infections.
If you have Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7, your computer already has a built in firewall that just needs to be activated. To activate your firewall, you need to:
- Click on your “Start” menu in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen.
- Select “Control Panel” from the list of options that appears.
- Select “Security Center” in the “Control Panel” window that appears.
- Select “Windows Firewall” from the list of options.
- Check the recommended firewall box and click “OK.”
If you do not have the ability to activate your firewall, you may need to update your computer.