In the world of Internet downloads, free software often means cheap software. This is true for firewalls, virus protection and data storage options. But that doesn’t mean dependable free software doesn’t exist. With a bit of research and exploration, you can find products with just as many features and abilities as those costing upward to $50 a month. Listed and detailed below are three of the best free firewall software options for the Windows computer user looking to safeguard their system without breaking the bank.

• Comodo Internet Security: This software is one of the most advanced free products you can use to secure your network. While Comodo is generally for users with expertise in computers, there are both basic and advanced customizable features, which can alleviate the process of utilizing the application. The firewall is password protected so users sharing the same computer cannot turn it off. The Comodo Internet Security download also comes with free antivirus software that you can choose to accept or not.
• PC Tools Firewall Plus: Not only does PC Tools Firewall Plus allow the user to monitor the entering and exiting traffic from their network, the user can also create their own additional rules and filters for allowing or disallowing information. Because of this expert option, PC Tools is not for the everyday computer user, but it’s worth learning to understand how to utilize.
• Ashampo Firewall: Of the three, Ashampo is the easiest application to work, but it does come with an advanced mode for users with more knowledge of system protocols. Ashampo has a neat feature called “Block All” that will halt all activity during an invasion emergency. The firewall also comes with a spam blocker, a browser history cleaner and a program manager.

The amount of protection available for absolutely free is astounding. These are just three of the hundreds of options procurable to any user. Have fun blocking out hackers!

In 1982, the computer was named the annual “Man of the Year” by Time magazine. It had been growing in usage and advancing in technology for years before then. Three years later, in 1985, engineers at Cisco designed the first version of what became known as a firewall. The first published paper on this new technology came out in 1988. All this is meant to say that firewalls are a relatively new creation in the history of computers and computer technology. But it was a necessary creation, marking a pivotal moment in computer history with a legacy that continues today.

The first generation of firewalls, as explained in the 1988 paper by engineers at the Digital Equipment Corporation, was called packet filters. Simultaneously, at a different company called AT&T Bell Laboratories, two men were already working on what would be the second generation of firewalls. The third generation came only two years after the initial paper describing the first generation. In 1992, the fourth generation was developed, followed by the fifth generation in 1996. Current firewalls are part of a generation without a number designation; instead, the modern firewall is a fusion of all generations and is known as the “Next Generation.” The following list will briefly explain key aspects of each generation.

• Generation 1: Packet filtering is the most basic task of a firewall. The filter merely examines the packet of information and allows it through or doesn’t.
• Generation 2: Circuit level firewalls were developed to prevent attacks resulting from service denial.
• Generation 3: Application firewalls are a type of proxy firewall that block suspicious traffic.
• Generation 4: Visas, developed at USC, became the foundation for the first commercially viable firewall.
• Generation 5: The Cisco Centri firewall became a successful commercial firewall.
• Next Generation: The last and most current generation allows for complete management of the firewall and protects systems from invasions.

Understanding how something works is one of the best ways to determine its merits and if it’s right for your individual needs. In the case of firewalls, knowing how that system works is important to the protection of your private information. If you know how firewalls work, it’s easier to choose the kind of firewall you need. Comprehending the basic structure of information flow in and out of your computer can save you from the horrors of identity theft and data corruption that a network without a firewall enables.

A firewall is basically a filter that sits between your private computer network and the public network of the Internet. Depending on the type of firewall — hardware or software — the structure can either be an actual physical router (hardware) or simply a downloaded application on your computer (software). Either way, both types behave as filters. Without them, hackers can access all your data and spread virus-like corrupted content.

As traffic enters your network from the Internet, the firewall can check it for validity in three possible ways.

1. Stateful inspection: Instead of scanning each packet of information trying to gain access, the firewall compares the questionable information to valid information database. Saving packets the computer user has trusted already creates this database.

2. Packet filtering: This is the basic manner of filtering incoming content. Data is scrutinized and moves along if it meets certain criteria as set by the filter.

3. Proxy service: The proxy service creates a parallel version of both real hosts to emulate the how the system will react to information entering the network.

To fully grasp the extent of a firewall’s occupation, it’s helpful to more deftly understand how computer servers work. However, knowing that a firewall sits between the Internet and your computer, going through the information attempting to infiltrate, is material enough for the everyday user.