As the prevalence of computer hackers, scammers and viruses increase around the Internet, you should know how and why to install a firewall. Defense from malicious data harming your computer is provided by a firewall. Without one, your computer is prone to a dangerous attacks that can wipe out your data or steal personal information that can negatively impact you.

The firewalls available vary widely and you must determine which type is suitable for your computer. It is likely that your firewall will already be set up and ready to use if your computer came with the Microsoft XP or Vista operating system installed. You must check that it is turned on and working properly. Your own software needs to be purchased if you do not have one of these later operating systems. Even with Microsoft XP, you may still want to purchase separate firewall software since the XP version doesn't get great reviews.

The many products available, include Norton, AVG, and McAfee and can be puchased in store or downloaded from the internet. There are plenty of low cost versions available, even from the big name companies, with prices varying according to the sophistication of the software.

A few things must be taken into consideration prior to the installation of your firewall. The program must not stop you using the functions that you need, such as file and printing sharing. Settings can be configured during installation or at a later date using the documentation provided.

Firewalls can limit access to certain parts of the Internet. You should be aware how you connect as this may happen if you use a local area network or a router. Secured networks in particular are difficult to access when you have installed a firewall in place. Before installing a firewall to a pc linked to a company network, you should liase with the company's IT department since they may give you a specific settings configuration so you are still able to connect to them.