The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Personal Firewalls is designed to provide simplified, yet thorough firewall information on the most prevalent personal firewall software applications available for the non expert firewall consumer. In addition, it offers information and links to Web sites that will help you test your security after your personal firewall is installed.

It was not that many years ago that the personal computer was first introduced. The benefits of personal computers were obvious but limited because each computer was an island unto itself. Over the years a great deal of effort has gone into figuring out how to interconnect computer systems. From the first local area networks, we have now grown into the age of the Internet, where millions of computers around the world share a vast and open network of resources and information. Connectivity is no longer the main issue. The new focus seems to be on how fast the connection is. This has led to 56kbps modems, and more recently, to cable and DSL connections. Because cable and DSL connections are always on, there is no waiting. Access is instantaneous. However, all this wonderful interconnectivity does have a drawback: security.

It turns out that the same tools that provide users with access to all the information and resources on the Internet can also be turned against them. Enter the hacker, a new breed of individual that thrives on breaking into computer systems. Most people keep a lot of valuable information on their personal computers, such as personal financial records and electronic diaries, that they do not want to share with others. However, many people fail to realize that when they connect their personal computer to the Internet, they are also connecting the Internet to their personal computer, where anyone with a little know-how can try and break in and have a look around.

To guard against this exposure, you need to erect a barrier that prevents unwanted visitors from breaking into the home computers without inhibiting your ability to surf the Internet. This is where personal firewall comes into play. In this book, you learn about the security risks that occur when you connect to the Internet and how you can use a personal firewall to guard against external threats. You learn how personal firewalls work, how to install them, and how they protect your computer. Whether you have a dial-up or a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection, you’ll find that the Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Personal Firewalls can help you surf faster and safer.

About the Author

Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. is an author, instructor, and a security analyst with over 13 years of experience in the information technology field. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and has over five years of teaching experience in information technology. Jerry is a Microsoft-certified Systems Engineer and has authored six other books, including Practical Microsoft Windows Peer Networking. He lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife, Mary, and their sons, Alexander and William.