In a nutshell, network security encompasses various tools that all have the same basic purpose. That purpose is to keep unwanted programs away from your computer. A firewall, for instance blocks access to things trying to harm your computer. It also blocks programs that you just did not want to have access to your computer. Network Security and Firewalls, among other helpful programs, just want to keep your computer happy and away from danger.
What is A Firewall?
Your average firewall is a basic form of network security used in most homes. A basic firewall's purpose is simple - to disallow unauthorized access while letting everything else pass through. Every time a new program is installed in Windows, it asks to make an exception in the Windows Firewall, especially if the new program will be involved with the Internet. For example, the Steam Platform is a place to play games and buy them at cheap prices. All of these transactions are held online. If the Windows Firewall were to see this as malicious, it would not allow Steam and the Internet to make a connection. The same goes for games being played on Steam. If the firewall sees any actions going on to be hazardous, it will not even allow it to happen. Sometimes the firewall is overprotective and blocks communication for legitimate programs. This can be corrected by making an exception manually in the firewall options.
Another Form of Protection
Another form of network security, and firewalls are included in this case, is called Unified Threat Management, also known as ITM. It is a type of network security that has been fast growing since the year 2004. UTM can be described as part of the evolution of the firewall. Not only does it include the function of a firewall, it also has content filtering, network intrusion prevention, load balancing, on-appliance reporting, and, of course, gateway antivirus. The UTM market was worth about $1.2 million in 2007 and appears to not be losing any steam.
"My computer keeps freezing" is a commonly said phrase of people with no forms of network security or firewalls. So many viruses, spyware, and hacking programs plague that person's computer that it just keeps slowing it down until it is all but frozen.
Source: http://goo.gl/H00U4
