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Just about everybody's picked up the phone, only to find some recorded voice pushing the latest product. These telemarketers run programs that simply call phone numbers, one after the other, until they find somebody who answers. Computer hackers do the same thing. They run programs that automatically try to break into every computer that's currently connected to the Internet.
If you have a cable modem or other ISP that's constantly connected to the Internet, you're especially vulnerable. See, the Internet assigns your computer a special number whenever it connects. Whenever your modem dials the Internet and connects, your number changes. But if you're constantly connected to the Internet with a cable modem or other 24-hour connection, your number never changes. That makes it easier for hackers to find your computer and, if it's vulnerable, to spread its number around to other hackers.
That's where a firewall comes in. Firewall software sits between your computer and the Internet, acting as a door. It lets you decide what software can access your computer, and when. Windows XP comes with a built-in firewall. To install it, follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu, right-click on My Network Places, and choose Properties.
The Internet is a huge network — it's designed for computers to talk to each other. That's why it's important to make sure that only the friendly computers do the talking.
2. Right-click on the connection you want to protect, and choose Properties.
If you're using a dial-up account, for instance, right-click on that icon. If you're using a network in your home or office, right-click on the Local Area Connection. Either way, choose Properties.
3. Click the Advanced tab and activate the firewall.
Click the box to activate the Windows XP firewall.
 | If you're running a network and using the Internet Connection Sharing to let all the networked computers share the modem, the firewall should only be activated on the host computer It doesn't need to be activated on the client computers — the computers that share the host computer's modem. |
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