Internet Safety: Internet Defences

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Avoiding Threats
3. Internet Security Suites
4. Passwords
   1. Password Security
   2. Password Security Activity
   3. Passwords Quiz 1
   4. Passwords Quiz 2
   5. Firewalls
   6. Firewall Quiz
5. Proxy Servers
6. Content Filtering
7. Backup/Restore

Firewalls

A firewall is a form of Internet defence. Just as it is recommended that a user should keep up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware software running on their system, it is also critical to maintain a strong firewall.

A firewall's purpose is to monitor and block any perceived threat from the Internet to the local system, eg: hackers.

Firewalls can be software or hardware based, or a combination of the two.

An example of a hardware firewall could be a router, and a software firewall could be the ZoneAlarm program. The ZoneAlarm program is freeware and can be downloaded and installed for personal use. Once installed, ZoneAlarm can be configured to permit Internet access as required by the user, for example, a browser's access to the Internet.

The primary function of a firewall is security and it is designed to prevent unauthorised users from accessing or taking control of a user's system.

Next: Firewall Quiz