Security : Firewalls

Many businesses want to connect their private computer networks to a public network such as the Internet. They are however concerned that users of the public network may be able to access confidential data stored on their private network. Similarly home computer users are worried that Internet users may be able to access data stored on their computers. Many of the security problems associated with connecting computers to a public network can be overcome by using a firewall.

A firewall is device or program that monitors and restricts the data that flows between a home computer or private network and a public network such as the Internet.

Typically a firewall will let you :

• Stop users of a public network accessing data on a private network or computer.
• Restrict what types of data can pass through it. e.g. web pages, files, emails.
• Keep a log of the data that passes through it so that potential security threats can be analysed.
• Modify the restrictions so that different users and different computers can have different access rights.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004