As its name implies, a firewall is a protective barrier between your computer and the Internet, where hackers could potentially break into your network. A software firewall is a program that is installed on an individual computer and does not protect your entire network. On the other hand, security features such as NAT and SPI are built into your Linksys router and would have the ability to protect every computer connected to your network. Your operating system may already include a software firewall. Refer to your operating system manual on how to enable the settings.
A software firewall is very useful for high-speed Internet users with DSL or cable modem because the connection is "always on" with a static IP address. This makes the computer especially vulnerable to viruses, worms, or any other unauthorized software. Since every computer connected to the Internet is assigned a unique IP address, hackers can use this to their advantage and obtain access into your computer or network. A firewall has the ability to block all traffic to and from a specific IP address, depending on the level of security that you want to establish. You can even restrict traffic so that only certain e-mails and other important data can get through.
A software firewall should be an additional layer of protection behind a NAT router or external firewall. With multiple layers of security, hackers will have a more time-consuming and difficult time breaking through to your network.
We recommend - Norton 360™ All-In-One Security
