Would you let a stranger at your front door walk right into your home? Not having a firewall is like leaving the front door on your computer wide open to all of your family photos, home movies, music… not to mention the financial information you’ve saved there. A firewall is like a computerized version of locking your door, managing your computer’s incoming and outgoing communication. One way you can think of your firewall is like the walls of your home, protecting all of your belongings from the outside world. However, in order for your computer to communicate with the internet, information has to pass through an open port. A port is like an open door that allows access into and out of your home. So, how exactly does your firewall protect you? First, a good firewall can alert you to suspicious behavior, so you can decide who to trust. You may not be aware of this, but when you’re online, internet criminals are constantly looking for open ports they can use to access your computer. The average computer has over 65,000 ports, all of which can be used to connect with another computer on the internet. A properly configured firewall won’t respond to communication from a hacker who’s trying to steal passwords and credit card information. This is like having an invisible house – if they can't see your computer internet criminals can’t attack it. A firewall blocks hackers scanning the internet looking for potential victims and trying to gain control over their computers. If some outside program tries to gain access to your computer, your firewall can detect it and let you know. If it’s a well-known company you trust, or that you initiated contact with, you probably don’t need to worry. For example, I often get an alert message when i download a statement from my bank’s website. But since this is an organization that I trust, I always click to "allow". Another thing your firewall can do is stop unauthorized outgoing communication. Like if your computer is trying to connect to the internet without your knowledge. If you have some type of spyware on your computer, your firewall can stop it from establishing connections with other computers from the outside world. So, why does this matter? Imagine a criminal trying to set up shop in your guest room – you wouldn’t let that happen. In the same way your firewall blocks your computer from becoming a source of attacks against other computers. It also prevents spyware from sending out your passwords and other private information. You may be wondering if there’s anything your firewall can't do? Well, although it’s a key element in your home internet security, your firewall does have some limitations. You need to use some ports for everyday things like sending email and using the internet, so your firewall can’t stop attacks that use these entrances. As long as your firewall is configured to allow email, it can’t block viruses that arrive as email attachments. For the most complete protection, your Norton Personal Firewall works side by side with your Norton Antivirus and Norton Antispam software. Remember, your firewall can only do what you tell it to do. And, as with all elements of home internet security, it’s important for you to keep your software up to date. You can be confident that with a properly configured norton personal firewall installed, you and your family are always in a safer place. thanks again for joining me, and for more information about home Internet Security click the link below.