What an amazing world we live in! Almost anything you can imagine can be researched, compared, admired, studied, and in many cases, bought, with the click of a mouse. The Internet has changed our lives, putting a world of opportunity before us. Unfortunately, it has also put a world of opportunity into the hands of those whose motives are less than honorable. A firewall, a piece of software or hardware that erects a barrier between your computer and those who might like to invade it, is one solution.If you've been using the Internet for any length of time, you've probably received some unsavory and unsolicited e-mail. If you run a business, you may be worried about the security of your data and your customers' privacy. At home, you want to protect your personal information from identity thieves and other shady characters. Firewalls For Dummies will give you the lowdown on firewalls, then guide you through choosing, installing, and configuring one for your personal or bus iness network.Firewalls For Dummies helps you understand what firewalls are, how they operate on different types of networks, what they can and can't do, and how to pick a good one (it's easier than identifying that perfect melon in the supermarket.) You'll find out aboutDeveloping security policiesEstablishing rules for simple protocolsDetecting and responding to system intrusionsSetting up firewalls for SOHO or personal useCreating demilitarized zonesUsing Windows or Linux as a firewallConfiguring ZoneAlarm, BlackICE, and Norton personal firewallsInstalling and using ISA server and FireWall-1With the handy tips and hints this book provides, you'll find that firewalls are nothing to fearthat is, unless you're a cyber-crook! You'll soon be able to keep your data safer, protect your family's privacy, and probably sleep better, too.