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Why should you turn on your computer's firewall?
- Your computer's firewall acts as a protective barrier between your computer and the internet, allowing only the network traffic you permit. For more information, see:
→ Mac Firewall
→ Windows Firewall
- Hackers search the Internet by sending out pings (calls) to random computers and wait for responses. Firewalls prevent your computer from responding to these calls.
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What should you do?
- IMPORTANT: Faculty and staff should consult with the ITS Support Center or your ITS Divisional Liaison before changing the firewall settings on a departmental computer. Students can contact the ITS Support Center for help and advice.
- Most new computers come with a built-in firewall so there's no extra equipment or software to buy. Consult your computer's security settings option to determine if you have a built-in firewall. If the option exists, turn on the firewall. Default settings are typically acceptable for most people. The most important thing is to make sure your firewall is turned on. See the Mac and Windows firewall links above for more information.
- Once your firewall is turned on, test it for open ports that could allow in viruses and hackers. Firewall scanners like the one on http://www.auditmypc.com/firewall-test.asp simplify this process.
Additional tools:
The ITS Security “Tips tricks and tools” web page includes link to free personal firewall tools. The ITS Support Center does not support third-party firewalls at this time, though your ITS Divisional Liaison may.
GETTING HELP:
Contact the ITS Support Center if you would like your computer configured to meet these requirements. For fastest response, open a request. You can also email help@ucsc.edu or call 459-HELP (4357).
Contact the ITS Support Center or your ITS Divisional Liaison with questions or concerns about any of this information.
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