India Broadband Forum

Preeti_20

This may sound dumb, but I seriously dont know the difference in firewalls, anti viruses and anti spy ware's.

Is it necessary to have all three on your system?

Ravi_Ranjan

I also want to know that,, somebody help please...

newprouser

Antivirus:

Antivirus is must for all computers, because there's a good possiblity of viruses coming through USB's and CD's

Anti-Spyware
Spyware aka malWell im my opinion the first two are must forware usually don't spread like virus. Usually they are installed as a part of useful programs , which themselves are provided for free. The usual programs are free screensavers, themes , free games and sometimes system software too.

So to install on not depends on wheather you use the above. Also note that spyware spread through websites where they get installed by confusing the user.

a good example is the new trend were many websites do a so called antivirus scan automatically and detect non-existing viruses and ask you to install their software to remove it.

Firewall
Every computer that is connected to the internet should be firewalled, to help it being hacked from outside the network.

One thing to note is here is that the hacker doesn't require any action on your part like clicking a webpage or installing software. A good example is like eagles and vultures surveying from the sky for a pray. they simply scan the network and you may get caught.

gothic_coder

Firewall
A firewall blocks the traffic (Incoming and outgoing), It blocks Intruders, Trespassers from accessing your computer which is connected to internet or in LAN, You can decide with the help of firewall that which program should access internet or which should not, It also stop defected programs to connect to internet based on default rules.
Note: It stop a malicious program but it cannot eliminate it.

AntiVirus
On the other hand an antivirus program monitors your computer for different threats, Viruses can come from some medium which firewall doesn't usually block, say email, downloading etc, In that case antivirus try to detect and eliminate the virus and if it doesn't manage to remove the virus it quarantines it.


Spyware
Spyware is actually type of malware which keeps track of particular users habit, We also call it "Tracking Software".. It's actual work is to give infected users information back to spyware source.


Hope this clear to some extent, Feel free to ask more

mickey

is it very important to have firewall for a normal home pc??

nilact

Yeh You do work in company that makes antivirus

gothic_coder

If you want intruders to take control of your PC then it's not necessary , On a serious note, I suggest you to use firewall

Is it

newprouser

Just to give an idea, check the source and destionation IP in the screenshots. I'm being attacked from my own network (i.e. from within local BSNL network)

firewall.PNG

meetdilip

It is wise to have all three modules in our system. Otherwise