What is Windows Firewall?

Windows Firewall is a personal firewall which comes bundled with Microsoft’s Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista operating systems. It filters data before it enters your system. Not only does Windows Firewall check incoming information; it takes care of outgoing information as well. A firewall that works with a router program probes every network packet to decide whether to forward it toward its address.

Windows Firewall protects the valuable data stored on your PC in following ways:

• Denying Remote Login.
• Preventing SMTP session hijacking.
• Scanning E-mail bombs that carry viruses and other malware.
• Not allowing suspicious Macros to run on PC.
• Keeping track of Virus, Spams and Trojans.
• Deleting / blocking risk ware.

Windows Firewall ensures an effective security of Microsoft Windows. It also prevents the malicious software from going out of the system followed by giving prompt to clean it. Computer viruses and hackers use open ports of a computer whose firewall security system is disabled. It leads to spread of virus in whole PC. Therefore, a firewall is essential security software on a computer.

Windows Firewall was first released onto Windows XP SP2. All kind of network connection including wired, wireless, VPN, or even FireWire, has the firewall enabled by default. However, there can be some built in exceptions allowing connections from machine on the local network.

Windows Vista has an improved version of the firewall which boasts of addressing concerns around the flexibility of Windows Firewall in a corporate environment.

Installing firewall security system offers an ultimate protection to network against outside intruders. Improper architecture or poor set up of firewall can affect data, thereby hampering your productivity. This encourages a need for to avail firewall support specifically focused on firewall protection.