When you leave your front door unlocked, one of two things could happen: nothing and something. Perhaps no one will come through your door, but you’re completely unprotected if someone does decide to try the knob. That’s what it’s like to have a computer connected to the Internet without applying a firewall. Depending on your neighborhood, you might never have a home intruder. Although the Internet is a bit like a vast and scary neighborhood, there are pockets that are safer than others. For this reason, not everyone needs a firewall, but it’s still advantageous to have one.

The following list contains three examples of network setups and the security risk of each.

• Dial-up home computer: This is the most secure computer setup. It is also, however, the slowest. Hackers usually look past dial-up networks due to the nature of the connection. It’s more difficult and less beneficial for an intruder to hack a computer using dial-up Internet. Thus, if your home computer is set up as such, the use of a firewall is not necessary. The likelihood of an attack is minimal.
• High-speed connection: Computers connected in this manner are at a high risk for hacking because they are almost always connected to the Internet. A firewall would be very helpful in this situation.
• Small business computer: Regardless of the connection used by the small business, it is in the interest of that business to invest in a powerful firewall due to the vulnerability of such a network and the possibility of important and private documents to be compromised.

The idea of “needing” a firewall is actually misleading. Anyone can surf the Internet without one; firewalls are just a means of protecting your system from looming threats. Most experts would agree that employing a firewall is in every user’s best interest if they are worried about their privacy, but it’s not a requirement. But neither is locking your door.

The decision to install a firewall is a crucial judgment call for computer users. The benefits of having such protection are not definitive — it makes more sense for some users to have them than others depending on the individual’s computer practices — but it’s hard to argue that not having a firewall is safer than having one. Purely deciding to use a firewall is not the end of the story, however. What type of firewall is the best for the user? There are two main categories of firewall: hardware and software. In the succeeding bullets, the details of both kinds of firewall will be explicated, allowing the user to resolve for his or herself which to employ.

• Software firewalls: The average computer user may find that firewall software is the most logical route for their type of usage. Firewall software is usually extremely cheap — often free — and can easily be found online at reputable websites. The software will download from the website and escort the user through a number of straightforward steps. Despite their simplicity, software firewalls are often customizable and dependable. The downsides to software firewalls include the need for regular updating and the possible burden extra applications can be on a system.
• Hardware firewalls: Usually businesses and large networks utilize hardware firewalls, but the everyday user may also take advantage of them if desired. Firewall hardware allows for central management of incoming and outgoing data, and there is very little burden on the computer’s resources since the program is not saved in RAM. Hardware firewalls and secure and fast, but they do come with a hefty price tag. They also require the knowledge of a computer specialist, but if it’s in the user’s budget and security is a top priority, hardware firewalls are the way to go.

Whichever firewall is chosen, the user should be able to rest assured that they have taken the necessary precautions to safeguard what’s theirs.