Firewall Testing --
Once you find out that you can test the security of your computer online, it
makes a lot of sense. While on the Internet, your computer may have 65,535
"ports" open. If the ports are open, a hacker or script kiddie may call.
There are many online test sites. You need to be a bit skeptical about which
of them to rely on. As a rule of thumb, do not rely solely on a testing site
provided by a company that wants to sell you a personal firewall. Once you
install a personal firewall, testing is needed to make sure that the
firewall is serving its intended purpose and that you have configured it
correctly.
To find out from direct experience why you need a personal firewall, we
suggest that you try one. After a few days, use the report function to see
how many times your computer has been scanned. Please note that many scans
are not dangerous, for example, your cable/dsl Internet service provider may
be checking to see that your connection is ok. For firewalls that are free
for personal use, see our
freeware page. Many vendors offer a free trial of their products, see
our
firewall software review page for choices and links. If you are ready to
buy a firewall, try our
Shop. Whichever choice you make, check the vendor's website after you
install your firewall for updates. The last step is to test the firewall to
see how well it works and to make sure that you installed and configured it
correctly
