You’ve heard you need a firewall to keep your computer’s identity “stealth” (hidden) while online so you can keep intruders and undesirable programs blocked out. But there are so many options. Not simply between software products, but hardware choices as well. How do you know which is right for you? Let’s look at the differences.

First of all, hardware is something you can see, like the monitor you are looking at to read this text right now. Typically hardware refers to the hard physical elements—the computer, the keyboard, the circuitry inside your computer—anything you can see and touch. (Hardware always includes some form of software, but you don’t see this. For example, your computer keyboard has a software program written into the circuitry that allows what you type to appear on the screen. But you don’t have to purchase this software for your keyboard. It’s already there.)

Software, on the other hand, is a computer program that tells the hardware exactly what to do. This webpage, for example, was written in a computer language called HTML. This HTML program tells your monitor how to display the text you are reading now. Software is the name for the instructions that tell the computer what to do. All software requires hardware to run.

A hardware firewall is a small metal box filled with plug openings, or ports. You hook your computer network into the box then set it up on your computer, just as you would a new printer or other peripheral.

Because it’s not physically on your machine, a hardware firewall is somewhat less vulnerable than a software firewall. You could look at a hardware firewall as a mini computer, and the price of hardware firewalls reflect this difference. Hardware firewalls are typically owned by larger businesses.

Software firewalls give you the level of protection you need to keep safe from hackers and other unwanted intrusions because software is far easier for computer novices to customize. The features are suited to smaller home networks.

Some top software firewall packages also include anti-spam, anti-virus, even anti-popup ad software. Some software firewalls are flexible enough to incorporate your existing anti-software into its firewall program. Some software firewalls also include parental controls to manage what kinds of websites your children visit. Some packages will also allow you to block photos and specific text content that you do not want your children to view.

Hardware firewalls are best suited to businesses and large networks; software firewalls are best suited for the home user who wants easy customization

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—> I hope you have enjoyed the posts that we continue to provide here at Solutions For Life. Our goal is to continually educate our users on the technology around us. We don’t write simply for our entertainment. Nope, our goal is to educate us all how to connect to the world around you…

Sincerely,

Ben Adams

SENIOR IT CONSULTANT

I have tried the AVG free anti-virus to protect my computer off-and-on for several years and on various operating systems that I have had at home. During this time, it used its own auto update every day to check for updates and download them so it should be fully updated at all times.

Throughout the time, I have continually been disappointed with the results. A great example occurred last week while working with a company that I will leave unnamed.  Several of the computers were running slowly, so I ran a scan with the McAfee Stinger which can be downloaded here as well as the Trend Micro Housecall.  BOTH came up with tons of viruses ranging from Trojans to worms.  I also saw several occasions where AVG would find a virus but then have no fix.

I then discovered a huge gaping hole in AVG Free. AVG free runs regular complete scans via its own scheduler, if you do not have automatically heal infected files checked in the settings, AVG will not only leave the malicious files it detects alone. IT WILL NOT WARN YOU OR ALERT YOU IN ANY WAY THAT IT HAS DETECTED VIRUS ACTIVITY.  The scan will run until complete then close.

That is simply unacceptable!!  Obviously AVG Free was not detecting the main down-loader Trojan or going any way to stop its activity.  Did I mention we were PAYING for AVG?  What would we have gotten if we used the free version?  Obviously, we are now paying for Trend Micro.

I could spend a whole post complaining about AVG and some of the other free solutions out there, but instead, let me explain a couple of helpful tips.

One way that companies keep anti-virus and firewalls free is by depending on reports from customers and other IT Admins concerning security risk.  Although this is a great system, this reactive rather than proactive.  Many IT Professionals also choose “NO” when asked whether they want to participate in the feedback program, because they do not want an extra task.  You are also depending on people to give you a solution from their own free-will.  Some companies have a paid version for customers, and the free version is funded from the left-over R&D of the paid subscribers.  They obviously reach the least support.

When you pay for Anti-virus and go with a common name, you receive the millions of dollars that go in to proactive R&D.  You receive industry-standard support that is often based in your language.  Again, you get what you pay for.  Who do I use for Anti-Virus?  I personally use McAfee, and I recommend Trend-Micro.  Both are fairly priced, and do not leave a huge foot-print like F-Secure and Norton.  However, you can make your own decision.

When making a decision concerning open source or paid anti-virus, consider this: Do you really want to scrimp on security? Do you really want to put yourself at risk when it comes to your computer’s sensitive information?  That is all the motivation I need!!

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—> I hope you have enjoyed the posts that we continue to provide here at Solutions For Life. Our goal is to continually educate our users on the technology around us. We don’t write simply for our entertainment. Nope, our goal is to educate us all how to connect to the world around you…

Sincerely,

Ben Adams

SENIOR IT CONSULTANT