A firewall is a method of protecting your computer from unauthorized network and Internet traffic. The firewall blocks sites, programs and ports to control the flow of traffic on the network. While a firewall can help prevent hackers from gaining access to your personal information, at times the firewall can also prevent programs that require network and Internet access from working properly. A big example of this comes from online games, which may have multiplayer access restricted until you open the ports properly through the firewall. Writer Bio
