Computer Firewalls Unleashed – What a Firewall Does

Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 am

by Ram Chaturvedi

A Computer Firewall is an operating system based software designed to control the access to unauthorized content on a network or a computer system. It works with predefined set of rules, according to which it decides whether to block or allow access.

A computer firewall is the firewall software used by many users who are working on Microsoft windows. They can easily access this firewall program. This firewall acts quickly to prevent Trojans and blocks the access of the network. This blocking technique is possible when the application criteria changed.

This firewall technology was found in the 1980s, when the Internet itself had not reached the people widely. Routers were used to separate network accessibility and the demand for network security was not necessary.

Day by day the use of the Internet access was gradually increasing. It led to development of more applications for Internet security. By this firewall was lunched for security administration. Windows firewall is available with the purchase of windows OS.

Since the function of the firewall is based on a set of rules, it can often become worthless, if not configured properly. Optimized analysis has to be done on a computer followed by changes in the settings for complete protection.

Adding of new features and new applications, firewall software is classified into three generation sets. All these firewall generation software supports both online and offline services. Firewall software controls the installation of new programs, as well as copying and sharing of data.

The first function is called a “packet filter”, which stays focused with the data units transferred from the network. The second one, called as “stateful filter”, which records the list of connections passed and uses this to determine the state of the packets.

The third generation firewall also known as a proxy-based firewall and is also called an application-layer firewall. Its main function is to detect unwanted harmful threats and abused protocols. After detection it will automatically blocks those unwanted threats.

Application layer-firewalls works on the application level of the TCP/IP stack and may intercept all packets traveling to or from an application. They block other packets. These application firewalls will prevent all unwanted outside traffic from reaching protected machines. On inspecting all packets for improper content, firewalls can prevent outright the spread of networked worms and most harmful Trojans.

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