Firewalls are an accessible way for the average computer owner to protect their information from the world wide web and all the harmful things that people use on it. You can prevent various outside threats from accessing your personal files and your personal data just by having a firewall installed onto your hard drive. Since the internet is so diverse, there are an abundance of threats that have the chance of attacking your network if the proper precautions aren't taken seriously.
Trojan Horses/Trojans
A Trojan horse, or a Trojan for short, is software that performs a certain act for the user, such as stealing information or harming someone's computer system. The term itself was taken from the Trojan Horse historical event. Unlike many viruses, Trojans don't replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive. The most common form of Trojans are programs that promise to get rid of viruses from someone's computer but they in fact introduce more viruses to the computer. Once a Trojan has been installed on a computer, the hacker can use remote controls to perform various tasks and to gain access to privileged information.
Spam
The definition of spam is to use electronic messaging systems such as e-mail or instant messengers to send bulk messages without permission. Spamming is just as harmful as it is irritating because advertisers have relatively no operating costs when they use spam as a form of marketing. Not only does it involve a mass amount of e-mails being sent out across a contact list but they are also a way that hackers can encourage people to be victims of fraud. Many times there will be spam e-mails that promote certain products and so when someone purchases the product using their credit card, all of their information is stolen and used against them. The general term for someone who uses electronic spam is called a "spammer".
Worms
Computer worms are malware computer programs that are self-replicating. They use the computer network to send identical copies of itself to different computers on the network. Worms differ from your average computer virus because they do not need to be a part of a program in order for them to damage a computer. Worms usually cause some sort of damage, whether it be by consuming bandwidth or venturing through files where they do not belong. The main way that worms get into your network is when they find a vulnerability in your operating system and so they inch their way inside of your system. The most common way for worms to be spread is through email and so you must be wary of opening email from unknown senders that include files, attachments, or links to outside websites. Firewalls are an essential need for anyone who owns a computer solely because of the amount of malicious entities that there are all over the internet. From worms to Trojans to spam, there always seems to be a new way for hackers to get into computer networks and to steal personal information. If you are attempting to avoid identity theft or attacks as equally harmful, install a firewall and ensure that it will protect your computer until it is uninstalled.
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