Q. What is a firewall? A. A firewall helps make your computer invisible to online attackers and blocks some malicious software such as viruses, worms, and trojans. A firewall can also help prevent software on your computer from accessing the Internet to accept updates and modification without your permission. Firewalls come in both software and hardware form, but hardware firewalls are intended for use in addition to a software firewall. Windows Vista and Windows XP both include a firewall. To learn more, read Understanding Windows Firewall. For a two-way managed firewall, try Windows Live OneCare free for 90 days. It is important to have both a firewall and antivirus software turned on before you connect to the Internet. Read more about firewalls. Q. What is antivirus software? A. Antivirus software helps protect your computer against specific viruses and related malicious software, such as worms and trojans. Antivirus software must be kept up to date. Updates are generally available through a subscription from your antivirus vendor. Microsoft offers Windows Live OneCare, a comprehensive service that helps protect your computer from many different kinds of threats, including viruses. It is important to have both antivirus software and a firewall turned on before you connect to the Internet. Read more about viruses. Q. Do I need both a firewall and antivirus software? A. Yes. A firewall helps stop hackers and viruses before they reach your computer, while antivirus software helps get rid of known viruses if they manage to bypass the firewall or if they've already infected your computer. One way viruses get past a firewall is when you ignore its warning messages when you download software from the Internet or e-mail. Microsoft offers Windows Live OneCare, a comprehensive service which includes a two-way managed firewall and antivirus software. Read more about how to help protect your computer against viruses. Q. What is antispyware software? A. Antispyware software helps detect and remove spyware from your computer. "Spyware" (also known as "adware") generally refers to software that is designed to monitor your activities on your computer. Spyware can produce unwanted pop-up advertising, collect personal information about you, or change the configuration of your computer to the spyware designer's specifications. At its worst, spyware can enable criminals to disable your computer and steal your identity. Antispyware software is an important tool to help you keep your computer running properly and free from intrusion. Microsoft offers Windows Defender, free antispyware software that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats.
Windows Defender comes with Windows Vista. If you use Windows XP, you can download Windows Defender for no charge.
Read more about spyware. Note: Some "spyware" actually helps desirable software to run as it's intended, or enables some good software to be offered on a free-with-advertisements basis (such as many online e-mail programs). Most antispyware software allows you to customize your settings so you can enable or disable programs. Q. What is a spam filter? A. Spam filters (sometimes broadly referred to as "e-mail filters") evaluate incoming e-mail messages to determine if they contain elements that are commonly associated with unwanted or dangerous bulk mailing. If the filter determines that an e-mail message is suspicious, the message usually goes to a designated folder, and links and other code in it are disabled. Then you can evaluate the message more safely at your convenience. Microsoft Office Outlook with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 both include spam filters. Read more about how to keep spam out of your inbox. Q: What is a phishing filter? A: A phishing filter is usually a component of a Web browser or Internet toolbar. It evaluates Web sites for signs that they are connected with phishing scams. Phishing scams use e-mail and Web sites that look identical to those that belong to legitimate sources (such as financial or government institutions) but are actually hoaxes. If you click links in the e-mail or enter your user name, password, and other data into these Web sites, it gives scammers information they can use to defraud you or to steal your identity.
The Microsoft Phishing Filter is available today in Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP and Windows Vista. To learn more, see Phishing Filter: Help protect yourself from online scams.
Read more about the signs of phishing scams in Recognize phishing scams and fraudulent e-mail. Q: What are parental controls? A: Parental controls can help you protect your children from inappropriate content, both on the Internet and in computer video games. Microsoft offers Windows Live Family Safety and Windows Vista Parental Controls. Both of these services allow you to choose separate levels of security for each child in your house, depending on his or her age and maturity level. Xbox 360 Family Settings offers parental controls that can help you restrict your children's ability to play inappropriate games and watch inappropriate DVD movies. Q: Does my brand new computer come with these software security tools? A: Maybe. When you buy a new computer, check your packing list to see if the manufacturer has included firewall, antivirus, or antispyware software in addition to the operating system (such as Microsoft Windows). Windows Vista contains a firewall, antispyware, a phishing filter, and parental controls built in. To learn more, see What makes Windows Vista the most secure operating system yet?
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