What is Firewall and how it helps to improve System protection??

What is Firewall and how it helps to improve System protection??

A Firewall is a set of related programs, located at a network gateway server that protects the resources of a private network from users of other networks. An enterprise with an intranet that allows its workers to access the wider Internet, installs a firewall to prevent outsiders from accessing its own private data resources and for controlling what outside resources its own users have access to.

Basically, a firewall working closely with a router program, examining each network packet to determine whether to forward it toward its destination. A firewall also includes or works with a proxy server that makes network requests on behalf of workstation users. A firewall is often installed in a specially designated computer, separate from the rest of the network so that no incoming request can get directly at private network resources.

In simpler words a firewall is software or hardware that checks information coming from the Internet or a network and then either blocks it or allows it to pass through to your computer, depending on your firewall settings. A firewall can help prevent intruders or malicious software (such as worms) from gaining access to your computer through a network or the Internet. A firewall can also help to stop your computer from sending malicious software to other computers.

Even if you think there is nothing on your computer that would interest anyone, a worm could completely disable your computer or someone could use your computer to help spread worms or viruses to other computers without your knowledge.

Windows Firewall

Windows Firewall is a stateful host-firewall technology that inspects and filters all IP version 4 (IPv4) and IP version 6 (IPv6) network traffic. As a stateful firewall, Windows Firewall tracks the state of each network connection and determines whether the unsolicited incoming traffic should be allowed or dropped. Windows Firewall blocks incoming traffic unless the traffic is a response to a request by the host (in which case, it is solicited traffic) or it is specifically allowed (in which case, it has been added to the Windows Firewall exceptions list). Exceptions can be specified by program name, UDP or TCP port number or system service name. Aside from a few Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) messages, Windows Firewall allows all outgoing traffic.

An Antivirus analyzes any file that comes through your system for all known viruses in its virus definition database and cleans, quarantines or deletes them as per your choices of settings. Antivirus would have no compatibility issues with setting up internet access via a home LAN, but a firewall would have to be configured to allow computers to access each other and the internet.