02.+Defending+Your+Computer


 * Defending Your Computer **

Firewalls are software programs or hardware devices that filter the traffic that flows into you PC or your network through a internet connection. They go through the data sent and received then remove what it deems harmful to your network or computer system. When connected to the internet, a PC or a network of interconnected computers make easy targets for malicious software and hackers. A firewall can offer the security that makes you less vulnerable and also protect your data from being compromised or your computers being taken hostage.
 * Firewalls: **
 * What are firewalls you might ask?**

__**Packet filtering or packet purity**__ Data flow consists of packets of information and firewalls analyze these packets to sniff out offensive or unwanted packets depending on what you have defined as unwanted packets. __**Proxy**__ Firewalls use proxys to play the role of a recipient and in turn sends it to the node that has requested the information & vice versa. __**Inspection**__ Firewalls instead of sifting through all of the information in the packets, mark key features in all outgoing requests & check for the same matching characteristics in the inflow to decide if it is relevant information that is coming through.
 * Firewalls use 3 types of filtering mechanisms:**

What is antivirus? Antivirus is a software to prevent, detect and remove malware, such as: computer viruses, malicious BHOs, hijackers, ransomware, keyloggers,backdoors, rootkits, trojan horses, worms ect.
 * Antivirus software **


 * Parental controls and family safety **

A number of products are available to assist parents in monitoring their children online, many of them free. Some of the most popular are [|Norton Online Family], [|Windows Live Family Safety], [|AVG Family Safety], and [|K9 Web Protection]. These products will never replace communication and trust between all family members. It's important for parents to realize that young people have access to technology all around them. There is not a product available to instill in your child the self-control and trust that will guide them through the maze that is the digital world they inhabit.

The most important thing to remember about passwords is to make them difficult to remember. Always try to combine numbers, upper and lower case letters, and symbols. Another option is a program like [|Dashlane]that will automatically create random passwords for every site as needed.
 * Passwords: **