Firewall Tests

How safe/secure is your computer right now? You can do a check on-line by going to the ShieldsUP! website: https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
and find out!

Click on the “Continue” button when you get there and then do the first check on “File Sharing”. You might be surprised at what you find or get a “Perfect security” result. After that, click on “Common Ports” and see what happens. Then click on “All Service Ports”.

There are other tests you can do like “Messenger Spam” and “Browser Headers”. They’re good, too, but a little bit more complicated. Definitely worthwhile.

Your internet connection flows both ways: stuff coming in and stuff going out, (downloads and uploads). Your security measures have to monitor both directions and do it effectively.

There are many firewall programs available which do just that. Unfortunately, they are not all good at it, (some are better than others). Some of the best free ones include ZoneAlarm, Comodo and Kerio. Note that the firewall that comes installed with Windows XP is not good at all! The one that comes with Windows Vista is better but still not good enough.

So - How is your firewall protecting you? (You do have one, don’t you?) It’s better to be sure than sorry.

Tags: computers, In English, Software

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