DSL FAQ : Do I Need a Firewall?

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Good fences make good neighbors." With your new broadband (DSL or cable) connection, your computer is potentially visible to others on the Internet. The general consensus is that cable users are more vulnerable than DSL subscribers. But no one without a firewall is without risk.

A good firewall makes your computer invisible, or at least less risk of being attack by others on the Internet. There are other users that will try to hack your machine looking for ways to see what is going on your hard drive. Some may only be curious, but others may be trying to be very malicious - even to the point of erasing files on your system. They could potentially gain access to your passwords and other private information you may have stored in files on the computer.
You may ask 'which is the best firewall'. Many users choose to install a software firewall. These have the advantages of low cost and easy setup. But to be more secure, hardware firewalls are considered the best choice. The down side of the hardware solution is cost. Which solution is best for you is a question you have to answer for yourself.