Antivirus Blog

A firewall is essentially a security application that regulates information and access between the internet and a computer. Firewalls are also used to regulate traffic between computer networks, but for the average home computer user, a firewall is a tool specifically to protect them from the dangers of the internet. Windows operating systems come with a built-in firewall, so, why would you need to enlist the aid of a 3rd party firewall?

Not to take anything away from Windows Firewall, which is an effective basic product, but it does not offer anything close to the protection of the firewalls provided by leading antivirus and internet security companies. With the sophistication of hackers increasing all the time, youíll want a firewall that is also constantly evolving and being updated with the latest security information.

One common misconception is that only computers connected to the internet via broadband or some other type of high speed connection need a firewall. While it is true that these types of computers are more frequently targeted by thieves, that does not mean that computers on a dial-up connection are necessarily safe. Any computer connected to the internet needs to have an effective firewall running.

Without a firewall, your computer would be completely vulnerable to attack from the internet. Hackers could easily connect to your computer, transmit harmful information, and even steal your personal information and data.

One big difference between the basic Windows Firewall and more advanced firewall programs is that Windows Firewall only regulates incoming requests. The reason this still leaves you so vulnerable is because if you happen to contract a virus or some other type of malware, that malicious program may take your information and attempt to relay it to the criminal that distributed the harmful code in the first place. For instance, if you contract spyware that steals the online usernames and passwords you have saved in your browser, the virus will then attempt to send that information back to the source of that malware. If you have an effective firewall application running, however, such a transmission may not be allowed to occur.

Similarly, having a router that controls access to your home computer network is similar to the above scenario. You computer router will not allow non-trusted incoming requests, but it has no way to regulate outgoing requests. A powerful firewall is still needed to totally protect all of the computers on your network.

Another reason that the basic firewall as well as the firewall protection provided by routers is inadequate is simply because the technology is somewhat outdated. Hackers, for the most part, have already developed ways to get around these basic types of firewalls, and routinely do so in efforts to steal information or harm computers.

Upgrading to a full service firewall will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you are being protected by the latest technology that is constantly being improved upon by antivirus experts. Many internet security suite software packages include powerful firewalls that are regularly updated along with the rest of the software to keep it up to date and keep you safe from the latest threats.

If youíre unsure of which firewall program is best for you, take a look at some of the reviews online to get a better understanding of which products offer the best service and value. You might start by researching the security products of the top companies such as Norton and McAfee, both trusted names in PC security.

The Storm Trojan first got its name after sending out a spam email in January of 2007 with the subject line reading ‘230 dead as storm batters Europe‘. This email was distributed coinciding with a very real storm event in Europe that caused several fatalities. Obviously, since it was a very hot topic at the time, many people were provoked to open it. Other urgent sounding headlines have been used in the past to spread the Trojan, including ‘British Muslim Genocide‘, ‘Fidel Castro dead‘, ‘Chinese missile shot down by Russian Satellite‘, and many more. Much more recent subject lines used to spread this dangerous Trojan include:

• John Mccain Taps Osama Bin Laden As Running Mate
• Earthquake in California destroys Schwarzenegger house
• Obama caught with pants down
• Queen Elizabeth abducted in Tibet
• Yankee Stadium demolished
• Pope killed by assasin in Vatican City
• Angelina Jolie dies in miscarriage
• Coral reefs found extinct
• New York Yankees team killed in bus crash

As you can see, the subject lines range from vague to just plain absurd. However, they still manage to get the attention of thousands. This tactic is commonly used to spam unsuspecting email users. Once Trojan spam is opened, there is usually a link to a site that will load the Trojan onto the user’s computer, or there is an attachment containing the Trojan in the email itself.

Sometimes the subject lines are a bit less extreme, and therefore are more likely to get the attention of those that know better than to open emails with hard to believe subject lines such as the previous examples. These subject lines will instead be based on some current event or news story, like ‘Cell phone radiation risks uncovered‘. They may also coincide with entertainment news, posing as links to articles about whatever film or television show is popular at the time.

Once an unfortunate user is duped into downloading the Trojan onto their computer, they may very likely become a host for the Trojan. Their computer and internet connection will then be manipulated by the infection to send out similar Trojan spam to everyone that is in their address book. As you can see, this gives Trojan spam incredible potential to spread like wildfire. So, how do you make sure you’re protected from this type of attack?

First and foremost, never open emails from an un-trusted source, no matter what the subject may be. Even if you do, do not download any attachments or follow any links contained within the email. Using your own diligence is your first line of defense against virus attacks.

Second, if you aren’t already, you need to be running an up to date antivirus application. The more elaborate the protection, the better. Some companies like McAfee, Trend Micro, and Norton offer total security suites that offer protection for just about everything the internet can try to throw at you. Even if you do slip up at some point and allow some type of malware such as a Trojan to invade your computer, a quality security utility will immediately detect it and then take the necessary steps to remove it. In some cases, the security software will detect the harmful program before it is even allowed to be saved to your computer. Do your own research and weigh your options when selecting a security solution. You certainly have a lot to choose from.