Personal firewall software

A personal firewall provides a key layer of security on your computer. It analyzes all information that passes between your computer and the internet, ensuring that only legitimate data is allowed through. This keeps your information, files and data safe from hackers

Personal firewall software explained

A personal firewall protects you from two main threats:

• Hackers on the internet. Your personal firewall will block outside attempts to break into your computer. The best firewalls have an extra-secure ‘stealth mode’, which stops hackers identifying your computer at all.
• Malicious software on your computer. Some viruses and spyware send information across the internet to cyber-thieves. A personal firewall will identify and block this, alerting you to the problem so you can fix it.

One element of computer security

You should run a personal firewall alongside other security software on your computer. In fact, some total security packages include a personal firewall function.

These usually provide the same standard of protection as separate personal firewall software, although they may not offer the same degree of control over how the firewall operates.

Similarly, your computer may have a basic personal firewall integrated into its core software. These are easy to set up and provide adequate protection, but also give you less overall control.

Why a separate personal firewall?

Using a separate personal firewall will give you detailed control over exactly which programs are allowed to access the internet - and how they can access it. This means you can override any legitimate programs that get blocked, or block certain functions of programs without blocking the whole program.

Many firewalls have a useful learning mode during which the firewall asks you which programs should be allowed to access the internet, or if the tracking ‘cookies’ used by certain websites should be blocked.

You may also be able to block specific types of data and sites. For example, you can blacklist adult websites, or stop file sharing services clogging up your broadband connection.