Protect Your Computer with a Firewall

Task #93

Difficulty Level 41

You can protect your computer from hackers by using a firewall. A firewall can be either a piece of hardware or a software-based solution. Mac OS X Panther has a built-in firewall that you can use to protect your computer from others. As its name implies, a firewall erects a “wall” on your network between you and the outside world. You can get past this wall going out, but those on the outside cannot enter.

Caution

Follow good security practices when using a firewall. If you are not using a port, a kind of “doorway” that either blocks traffic or allows it through, there is no need to open it. Deactivate any ports that you are not using. Going back to the wall analogy — closing a port on the firewall is not like locking that doorway; instead, it is like completely removing the door from the wall.