What Does A Firewall Protect You Against ?

[ShallowQueen]

I was reading another thread about firewall, and just wondered what it was for and if is it in my MSE or malware bites?

[jno]

it's probably bundled in with Windows on your computer.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/windows-firewall

[Buenchico]

A firewall blocks other computers from accessing your own computer. Without it there's a possibility that someone could access the data on your PC or install a malicious program.

All of the more recent versions of Windows include a built-in firewall. MSE doesn't have its own firewall but checks to see if that built-in firewall is turned on. (Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware, while extremely useful, has nothing to do with firewalls).

To check if the Windows firewall is turned on, go to your Control Panel and then to 'Security Center' (or 'Action Center', depending upon which version of Windows you're using).

If the Window firewall is turned off you should turn it on UNLESS you're using a third-party security suite (such as those provided by Norton or McAfee) which include their own firewalls.

[ShallowQueen]

If someone did access my computer wouldn't they need my passwords to access the sites I'm registered with?

[ShallowQueen]

Just checked, my FW is on.

[Buenchico]

If they can access your computer they can, for example:
(a) use your email account to send spam to millions of other computers ;
(b) install malicious programs on your computer (such as keyloggers, which will forward things such as your internet banking passwords and credit card details to their own computers) ;
(c) use your computer to seek access to millions of other computers, in order to install similar malicious software,
etc, etc.

[Buenchico]

>>>Just checked, my FW is on.

No problem then!

[ShallowQueen]

But can they get my passwords?

[Buenchico]

'They' can't get your passwords if your firewall is turned on AND you've got a decent anti-virus solution (such as Microsoft Security Essentials) running.

If not, a keylogger could be installed on your computer, which would forward every single thing you typed online (such as your posts here) to a fraudster's computer, which would then analyse the data to look for banking passwords and credit card details.

With proper security measures in place (such as a firewall and anti-virus program) online shopping and banking is at least as safe (if not safer) than doing it on the High Street. Without it you might as well put an advert in the newspapers, telling everyone your passwords and banking details.