What is Windows Firewall and how does it help you?
Windows Firewall is a program designed to protect your PC from unauthorized users and applications. If you are using Windows XP or Vista, you can access the Firewall from your Control Panel. When you install Windows XP for the first time, the Windows firewall is enabled by default. You can choose to turn off your firewall. However, your computer will be prone to vulnerabilities.
Windows Firewall works by taking stock of all the applications running on your computer. It will then allow you to set exceptions for specific Windows programs and services. Once the firewall is activated, it will display a visual notification to the user if it blocks a specific program. You have the option of allowing or denying the same at your discretion.
A firewall is better suited to prevent unwanted computer viruses and Trojans from reaching your PC. However, one thing worth noting is that it may not be very effective in disabling or removing computer viruses. However, if you have a quality up-to-date antivirus program, it may work well with the Firewall to give you the best results.
Windows Firewall generates a security log that will be useful for troubleshooting. This log will contain information about unauthorized access attempts to your PC. Once you have this information, you can further strengthen the security of your computer.
If you are using your Windows Firewall, you will notice that applications take a little longer to open. This is because the Firewall parses your application with the settings to make sure it is secure. However, this is a small trade-off when you are considering the security of your computers.