Computer Firewall – ZoneAlarm Setup for Beginners

A Computer firewall is a very useful tool that helps computer users stay safe while surfing the Internet. A firewall is an application that blocks any unwanted connection to or from your computer, making attacks very improbable. Good firewalls can also give in-depth information about the applications that attempt to establish a network connection and the remote server to which they attempt the connection. You can configure the firewall to block specific applications or specific IP addresses and ports. However, setting up a good firewall defense system is very hard and requires at least some understanding of how these tools work. Since beginners do not possess this knowledge, we will try to explain what to look for in a computer firewall, how to find the best firewall for your personal computer security, how to install it, and how to configure it. We are working with the popular Zonelabs Firewall. 

 ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall 2010 - Save $30.

Most software firewalls come with one or more sets of rules and are pre-configured to protect your system. This means that once you install a software firewall, it will begin protecting your computer without any other configurations. However, its rules are more or less intrusive or aggressive towards some applications, so you might need to make some tweaks before it works the way you want. We will get to this part when we discuss the Zonelabs ZoneAlarm Firewall, later in the guide.

Windows Firewall

Before we get to a third-party firewall, we should check out the Windows Firewall. Since most users have a difficult time applying the latest security patches from Microsoft, the company decided that it was time for a built-in security system. This is why Windows Firewall was developed. Although it does not offer the same level of protection as a third-party firewall, it is still a good security feature. All you have to do is turn it on in just a few easy steps...

For Windows XP... First, go to Start - Settings - Control Panel -  find and click on the Windows Firewall icon - Click the General tab then the On radio button. Windows Firewall now protects you from incoming attacks. The Win7 steps are... Start - Control Panel - System and Security - Windows Firewall - Click 'Turn Windows Firewall on or off' from the left panel. Although it is simple, it can examine all incoming data and, unless the data is solicited (a port is opened in the firewall to accept it), it drops it. This only protects incoming traffic, outgoing traffic along with your confidential information is not protected...you absolutely need a better firewall.

Zonelabs ZoneAlarm

This is perhaps the best known free firewall on the market. Aside its popularity, ZoneAlarm is one of the best firewalls to date and will be a great addition to your online security. Not only can you monitor and block incoming and outgoing data, you can also see which applications attempt to access the Internet. This way, you can detect viruses, Trojan horses, and keyloggers in no time. Remember, these malicious programs are installed without your knowledge so it is hard to detect them.

A note about the Free Firewall Software: There is a nag screen with the current free software and every time you reboot it will appear and wait for you to decline or accept the upgrade offer and you might have no problem with that. The catch is however, ZoneAlarm will not start to protect your computer until you answer the question on this screen. If it does not appear immediately on rebooting, and sometimes it does take a little while to materialize, or if you forget to wait for it, and go straight onto the internet, you will NOT be protected.

 Let’s start by installing either the secure Pro version in the link above or the free verson in the link following...Download ZoneAlarm Free Firewall Now! and download ZoneAlarm. During the install, you will be asked if you want to set Internet Explorer as a trusted program, so that you can surf the Internet right away. If you have another browser, click “No”. Internet Explorer is known for its security holes and bugs, so it is better to avoid it, Firefox is a much preferred browser. If IE is your preferred browser, let ZoneAlarm make it a trusted program.

You will now have to restart your computer. Once it restarts, follow the program guide that appears to better understand how ZoneAlarm works. However, your PC is now protected thanks to the built-in set of rules. ZoneAlarm keeps a database of all installed programs and, when one of them attempts to connect to the Internet or act as a server so that foreign programs can access it, it halts it and displays a message. You have the options of permanently granting access, temporarily granting access, permanently denying access, and temporarily denying access. This feature, which makes ZoneAlarm so appealing, is absent in Windows Firewall, as well as in most low-end firewall software.

If you want to configure your firewall even more, double click it and browse through the tabs. If you do not understand something, go to the help section and you should find answers to all your questions. Make sure you do not leave your defenses down in the process because a computer can get infected in just a few seconds. Also, make sure you do not set the defense level too high because some programs might not receive internet connectivity.

Testing your Firewall

This is a very important part of the setup. You have installed the firewall, configured it, and you have it working the way you like. But is your firewall safe this way? Without testing it, you will never know. There are many websites that specialize in testing your firewall, absolutely free. The reports they give you are crucial. For example, you have good defenses against ICMP Echo Requests and your firewall manages to keep your computer hidden, but you have vulnerability when it comes to NetBIOS attack and intrusion. This is why you should perform every test from two leading websites: Shields Up and PCflank.

These websites use advanced software probes to test your firewall in simulated attacks. All vulnerabilities found are reported and you can even get some hints on how to fix them. Your computer will probably receive thousands of such probes during its lifetime and most of them are from potential attackers. Therefore, it is crucial to have a firewall that is good at hiding your PC completely.

Updating your Firewall

This is a very important part of your security. The firewall must be updated frequently in order to successfully protect your computer. Depending on the firewall you use, the developer might or might not announce you of an update. It is your job to visit the developer’s website frequently, download, and install the latest updates.

As you might already know, new threats appear every day. There are new kinds of viruses and Trojans, new kinds of attacks, and new attack strategies. The only thing standing between you and them is your firewall. However, you must keep it updated to make sure it can recognize and fend any type of attack. It is like a war: never let your enemy have the most powerful weapon.

Tips and tricks

Never allow unknown programs to access the Internet. Leave the pop-up message there and do a Google search to find out what that program is. Most users tend to click Yes to all pop-ups and let malicious programs do their job unhindered.

Do not maintain the highest security policies in your firewall because it will cause some programs to crash. Your firewall must be balanced.

Do not rely on just your firewall. Install antivirus and antispyware software to make sure you are protected from all threats. Check out either ZoneAlarm intergrated security by clicking the link below or look at my AVG review and avast! review.