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Windows Vista Firewall
If you make use of the internet then a firewall is one thing you really need!
A firewall is very important because this protects your computer against hackers and worms.
Hackers are people who want to break into your computer to collect personal data.
Worms are tools which you can compare with virusses and are develloped to damage your computer.
Windows Vista is provided with a build-in firewall and will automatically be activated to protect you against virusses, worms, hackers, etc.
General information about firewalls
To understand what a firewall does exactly, you first have to understand how a network connection works. Your computer is connected to the internet by a small cable. But what you probably don't know is that this connection consists of 65,535 ports. There can be communicated using all these ports and in fact you can do 65,535 things at the same time. Normally there will be used only a few ports at the same time.
These ports can be split up in two categories:
- TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
- UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
TCP is normally used for sending text and images (webpages and e-mails).
UDP can be compared with a radio or tv channel. UDP is normally used for realtime communication like internet radio.
Each port has two directions: incoming and outgoing. The data which comes in (from the internet to your computer) are the most dangerous but you cannot close every incoming connnection. If you would do that, you will not be able to receive any information any more.
So, what you need is a method to filter the information you want to reveice and the information you do not want to receive.
Anti spyware and antivirus tools help you to protect you against virusses and spyware that is trying to get into your computer to do some damage or to collect your personal data. But there is a third danger: worms.
Worms can get into your computer using unsecured ports. But fortunately you also have the Windows Vista firewall.
The Windows Vista firewall remembers exactly the information you request from the internet. Before this information will be let trough, the firewall checks if you indeed requested that information. If this is not the case then the data traffic will be blocked by the firewall.
The firewall doesn't only open or close the ports but it also filters the information first.
Against what does a firewall NOT protect you?
It is important that you know that a firewall doesn't protect you against every internet attack. A firewall is just a part of the securitysystem.
- A firewall does not protect you against spyware and virusses
- A firewall does not protect you against attacks on base of software bugs. The function for automatic updates will do this. Read here more about automatic updates.
- A firewall does not protect you against pop-ups. Read here more about pop-ups.
- A firewall does not protect you against phishing. Read here more about phishing.
- A firewall does not protect you against spam e-mails.
 Windows Security Center
Windows Vista Security Center helps you to protect your computer. You can open the Windows Vista Security Center this way:
- Click 'Start'.
- Click 'Control Panel'.
- In the Control Panel you click 'Security Center'.
Windows firewall is default enabled and always active. If the status is 'Off' or it is not checked then there is probably another firewall installed and active on your computer. If there is no firewall active on your computer, you should activate it immediately!
Enable or disable Windows Vista Firewall
You can only enable or disable the firewall if you have administrator rights.
- Click on 'Windows Firewall' in the left pane of the security center.
- Click on 'Change settings'.
 Here you can choose if you want to enable or disable the Windows Vista Firewall.
If you prefer to use another firewall then you should choose here 'Off' to disable the Windows Vista Firewall.
But again, be sure there is always one firewall active when you are connected to the internet.
Advanced Settings
On the 'Advanced' tab in the above screen you can choose which network card must be protected by the Windows Vista Firewall. If there are multiple network cards installed in your computer, you should select them all, unless you have a specific reason not to do that.
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