{"id":1372,"date":"2009-10-08T13:48:29","date_gmt":"2009-10-08T17:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/desktop\/help\/safe\/firewall\/"},"modified":"2023-07-21T12:55:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T16:55:51","slug":"firewall","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/services\/cccs\/desktop\/device-security\/safe-computing\/firewall\/","title":{"rendered":"Personal Firewalls"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 class=\"subheadingVerdana\">What is a firewall?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"bodytypeTimes\">A firewall helps protect you against unwanted outside connections to your computer. Everyone on the Internet should use a firewall <em>in addition to<\/em> anti-virus and spyware removal software.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"subheadingVerdana\">Why do I need a firewall?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"bodytypeTimes\">A firewall helps you block unwanted connections to open network ports on your computer. You might open a port on purpose, but a port can also be opened by a virus or worm, <em>without your knowledge<\/em>. Once a port is opened, a stranger may be able to take control of your computer, or your computer may be used to spread viruses and other malware.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 95%;\" border=\"1\" bgcolor=\"#ffffcc\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul class=\"subheadingVerdana\">\n<li><strong>A firewall helps protect your computer from unwanted outside connections.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>For good protection, you should run a firewall AS WELL AS <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/services\/cccs\/desktop\/device-security\/endpoint-protection\/\">endpoint protection software<\/a> <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span class=\"subheadingVerdana\">Will a firewall get in my way?<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>We recommend the built-in firewalls for all Windows and macOS systems.<\/li>\n<li>If you choose instead to use a third-party firewall, you may find it more restrictive and\/or intrusive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"subheadingVerdana\"><strong>Where do I get a firewall?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>WINDOWS 10\/11<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Windows firewall should be enabled by default.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/turn-microsoft-defender-firewall-on-or-off-ec0844f7-aebd-0583-67fe-601ecf5d774f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">See this page for instructions<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"subheadingVerdana\"><strong>macOS <a id=\"macosx\" name=\"macosx\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"bodytypeTimes\">macOS has a built-in firewall that is <strong>NOT<\/strong> turned on by default but it is recommend that you turn it on.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/guide\/mac-help\/block-connections-to-your-mac-with-a-firewall-mh34041\/mac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">See this page for instructions<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a firewall? A firewall helps protect you against unwanted outside connections to your computer. Everyone on the Internet should use a firewall in addition to anti-virus and spyware removal software. Why do I need a firewall? A firewall helps you block unwanted connections to open network ports on your computer. You might open&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1348,"featured_media":0,"parent":1273,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1372"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1348"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1372"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1372\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146746,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1372\/revisions\/146746"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}