by 
The Curious Bag
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A firewall acts as a defensive measure that helps to keep viruses and other malicious software out. Numerous manufacturers make firewall software, such as Symantec and McAfee.
Function
Firewalls operate by examining all incoming transmissions and files for viruses and other hidden malicious software. If anything is discovered, the firewall will prevent it from getting through to the computer.
Types
All firewalls are customizable so security levels can be very lax or stringent. Level is based on personal comfort and how much a user downloads files and surfs the Web.
Considerations
Firewalls run by corporations or in a school are usually customized to a higher security level than those on a personal computer.
Features
Firewalls can also be customized to block certain words, phrases or websites. This allows companies and schools to block out websites with dangerous or pornographic material.
Potential
Firewall software can be downloaded directly from the vendor or sent to you on CD. Setup is easy, but old security software may need to be uninstalled or turned off for it to work.
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