Firewalls
A Personal Firewall is a vitally important piece of software in the defence of your PC. A personal firewall will alert, and if so configured, block any unauthorised access attempts to your PC from the Internet.
There are many free personal firewalls available for download on the Internet today, but these are reasonably complex pieces of software, and users are often better off purchasing this software from a local supplier who can provide configuration support and assistance when attacks are detected.
As with Anti-virus software, it is critically important to keep the Personal Firewall updated as some of the features rely on new identification techniques for attacks.
As a general rule, there should be no reason for any connections coming INTO your PC while connected to the Internet, and if the Personal Firewall detects any traffic of this type, block it until you have determined whether it is safe or not. The Personal Firewall will usually direct you though the process for blocking this attempt.
Download recommended firewall products:
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall - License: Free for home users
ZoneAlarm is designed to protect your PC from hackers. This program includes four interlocking security services: a firewall, an application control, an Internet lock, and Zones. The firewall controls the door to your computer and allows only traffic you understand and initiate. The Internet lock blocks Internet traffic while your computer is unattended or while you're not using the Internet, and it can be activated automatically with your computer's screensaver or after a set period of inactivity.
Jetico Personal Firewall* - License: Free for home users
Jetico Personal Firewall protects your computer from unwanted hacker's attacks from outside as well as from malicious programs living secretly inside your computer's memory and hard drive. Three levels of protection are included: low-level network packets filtering, application-level network events filtering, and filtering of user-level process activity. Jetico Personal Firewall checks every packet that comes in or out of your computer.
Comodo Firewall Pro FREE* - License: Free
Comodo Firewall ( PC Magazine Online - 'Editor's Choice') continuously and effectively monitors and defends your PC from internet attacks. Relatively easy to install and use, it passes stringent firewall "leak" tests. Unlike many other 'free' firewalls, this is not version with reduced functionality but is the full product. This comprehensive solution is updated with the same freguency as commercial products with one major difference - that it is 'free forever'.