If you are a regular internet user, be it at home or at work, chances are you have heard the term a"firewall". When asked what exactly a firewall is though, many people have a limited amount of knowledge, knowing only that it is something that protects computer systems.

Quite simply, this is correct; the basic principle behind a firewall is to act s a barrier between the internet and a local computer. This local computer can either be a standalone system, part of a home network or a larger office network.

Regardless, a firewall works the same way by keeping out unwanted hackers and/or preventing users from performing certain actions (e.g. viewing offensive websites or downloading programmes).

A firewall can either be located on a computer system, (known as a software firewall), within a network router, (known as a hardware firewall), or both.

Nearly all of today's network routers have built in firewalls which can be configured via the computers internet browser to which they are connected. Most home computer systems are pre-installed with a software firewall; there is also a great deal of free firewalls available on the internet.

Both hardware and software firewalls work in similar ways to keep your system secure and for maximum security a combination of the two is recommended. In order to protect your system a firewall uses one or both of the following methods:

* Packet Filtering is used to compare data (or packets) that reach the firewall to predefined filters, if the data complies with the filters then it is allowed through, otherwise it is dropped.
* Stateful inspection is a newer technology which unlike packet filtering does not analyse the whole packet, but just key parts. Specific characteristics of outbound packets are compared to inbound packets and if the comparison is acceptable the data is allowed into the network, otherwise it is dropped.

By using the above technologies users are able to allow or deny traffic into and out of their network based upon IP addresses, domain names, protocols and ports.

Internet calling has revolutionised the calling method. People of the entire world can be connected by this new system of call making. Internet calls have taken over traditional methods of connectivity. The reason for its success is the cheap means of connectivity and more alternatives to do more task. With internet, call making is just not limited to forwarding a call. The user can also send files, see the other person to whom one is talking and avail conference calling.

All that is required to avail this facility is a computer with internet connection. This is not at all an issue as computers have reached every house. One just has visit the sites that offer internet calling facility. Then one has to download the installation file and save it on the machine. The entire process is simple and easy and takes only a few seconds. Once installed, the user can make free calls to online friends and also dial a call to a phone number. In the second case there are some miscellaneous call charges. But that too is very less as compared to the tradition method of transferring calls.

There are several reasons for the cutting down of call costs in case of call over the internet. The conventional method of phone connection is completed with wires and cables reaching the end users. But, this modern technology of internet calls is completely digital. There are no long drawn wires. People can simple connect by availing the internet connection. This has made it possible for people to make free internet call by using this technology. The user is gratified by the ultimate provision and facilities of this technology. Moreover, the process is more entertaining as the voice quality remains very clear and callers can also view each other on the computer screen. There is no loss of voice quality as in this process analog signals are converted to digital signal to transfer calls. Once the call reaches the end user they are reconverted to analog form. The end user thus makes the best use of this form of connectivity. Moreover, the user can also transfer stored files to others with the aid of this technology. The files can be picture, videos and messages. It means that while making calls, one can also remain entertained by transferring files to the end users. Another interesting feature is conference calling. The user now can connect to many people at the same time by means of internet calling.

The calling facility is not devoid of intriguing factors. The user is more inclined toward learning the connectivity facilities of Internet calls. One can acquire knowledge about them by simply exploring the various options available with this method. Once a person starts using internet telephony he never abandons it. The user remains fascinated with the convenience offered by this form of connectivity. It is hassle free and people can avail this connection even while one is on a move. Laptops can be brought to use for establishing such connection. Moreover, the free availability of this calling facility is a moral booster for people who no longer have to care for the bills involving long distance calls. So, one can make phone phone calls to their peers without much hassle. Internet calling has bought people closer and has helped to make bonds stronger and intense. People now can see as well as talk to friends and family members living at distant places of the Earth.

Internet has entered lives of millions of people and effectively transforming their complex tasks into simpler ones. Earlier doing research involves several tiring library trips. But, with the advent of internet it seems like a cool breeze. Similarly, before the arrival of internet communicating your distant living loved ones was a tedious as well as expensive task. But, emails have made things easier and affordable at the same time.

In earlier times, military intelligence used to hold the services of internet. But now one can easily explore the entire cyberspace with computer attached with modem and a telephone connection. Internet has made the world a smaller place to live. Moreover, those who are successful during this internet boom have also made quite good money.

Internet is undoubtedly offering a whole lot of advantages but there are negatives too. Personal communication is being affected the most. Another serious issue which is growing adversely with internet is pornography. A recently conducted survey has revealed that approximately 30% of websites carry sex based stuff which is a serious threat for our future generations. It really needs some immediate step and look out for the appropriate remedy.

In order to keep check on such sites censorship software is also available in the market, such as Netnanny, SurfWatch etc. But, unfortunately government is not taking the issue of pornography on internet seriously and it is affecting the young minds adversely. They are becoming addicted about it and are also getting distracted from their studies. Thus, it is a serious matter and needs to be considered effectively.

On the other hand, internet is also playing key role in the constantly growing economy as innumerable internet based companies are evolving and giving business as well as employment. Although, internet offers some mind boggling benefits, still its negatives are unavoidable and needs to be considered instantaneously.

Presently, the Internet is the most widely used medium which has gained popularity throughout the world. Our entire lives have undergone a great change. No matter which information we are searching for, we just have to logon to the internet and the information is right in front of us. When we talk about high speed internet connection, broadband is the right word that defines it. With the introduction of broadband, one can experience faster internet speeds. If you like doing activities like downloading music, playing games, watch online videos, then you might need a faster internet connection.

Access of internet has become important for most of the people to get connected with the world. Earlier, people were using dial-up connections for connecting to the internet. Broadband can be considered as a faster connection to the internet. In dial-ups, we got a speed of around 56 KB per second, but in broadband, we get a much higher speed.

Apart from quicker downloads, one can experience instant browsing. Whether you wish to access your emails, play online games, watch videos, listen to music or download heavy files, you can do it in no time. The number of broadband providers in the market are competing against each other to entice the customers. Each one is trying to offer a range of attractive plans and services to the users. With the amazing services of these providers, one can really have a good experience staying connected with the world. The great deals along with astonishing services are free unlimited access during night hours, etc.

Finding a cheap broadband deals is an easy task if you research and compare the deals of different broadband providers. These days, the user can easily find excellent deals on offer which make broadband affordable for consumers. While selecting a provider, one must look for a reliable provider that offers good service at a reasonable price.

There are numerous broadband providers providing a variety of packages. They are providing incredible services to lots of customers use everyday. The user has to decide whether he has to use cable, DSL or satellite. Choose the one that suits your requirements after comparing the web speed, features and cost.

There are some service providers which provide some great value added services along with economical prices. So, discover the future of the internet with broadband.

In the UK, many broadband comparison websites are now offering speed test or speed checker services. This is in response to a number of reports by the national press that confirm that almost all broadband internet users experience much slower download speeds than those advertised by broadband providers.

It is worth mentioning that download speeds can be restricted both by the users own computer speed and by the speed of the server that is sending the file. However, for the purposes of this article we will assume that both those factors are optimal, and concentrate on broadband speed meaning the speed of the connection provided to the user or consumer.

In general, the download speed advertised by a broadband provider is the maximum download speed theoretically available somewhere on their network. The actual speed experienced depends on the hardware in the telephone exchange, the distance between the exchange and the physical location of the user and the quality of the line between the exchange and user. It is therefore no surprise that a study by consumer magazine Which? last year showed that users on an 8Mbps download speed broadband service experience an average speed of 2Mbps.

Broadband download speeds are never going to be constant for UK consumers. Too many factors play a part, including the number of other people using the service and therefore also the time of day. So the question then becomes, how should broadband providers fairly advertise their download speeds? Consumers ability and desire to switch between broadband providers is what keeps the marketplace competitive and improves quality of service in the long run, so I'm not about to propose that broadband providers start advertising solely with the minimum download speeds that users experience. However, more information needs to be given to the consumer.

Ofcom introduced a voluntary code in June 2008 under which broadband providers must tell give potential customers an accurate estimate of the maximum speed that their phone or cable line can support. However, this is only relevant when the customer is already speaking to a sales team or placing an order on a website. So changes need to be made in the print and television advertising by broadband providers, and it would be much more effective as a requirement by Ofcom rather than a voluntary code. One suggestion is to require them to publish next to a maximum line speed some sort of independent average download speed experienced by their users. There is no reason for the maximum line speed to be removed because that is also what the consumer is paying for, but consumers shouldn't be switching to another faster broadband provider only to find that the actual speeds are the same or less than their old provider.

The purpose of advertising broadband in the UK using average rather than maximum download speeds is that broadband providers would have to compete based on the actual quality of service given to their customers rather than theoretical ability or customer service. At a time when the government is asking BT to improve the broadband speeds in the UK, this is something that the consumers really want to see done.

The quest for faster Internet speeds can not be satisfied and while not everyone can afford the T1 dedicated lines which cost around $300 a month, most of the people can get the best out of their current Internet connections. This is done by using DSL speed accelerator tools. Here is a look at some of the most popular DSL web accelerator tools which you can consider.

First product is the Web Speed Accelerator from the company which shares the name with the product., The solution claims to increase the speeds of web surfing by as much as 350%. The solution is priced at around $20. The main principle on which this software works is that it optimizes various settings related to TCP/IP protocol stack. The common setting which are optimized include Max Transition, Packet Detection, Time to live and RWN.

Apart from the Internet speed improvement, this solution also assists the computer in memory management and makes the computer run faster. This solution can work with both ADSL and dialup along with DSL because it works at the protocol level and not a connection level.

The second product you can consider is DSL Speed from DSL-SPEED.ORG. The solution claims to set your internet settings in such a manner that they deliver maximum performance. The solution uses online services to determine the MTU and DSL unique optimize value for your computer. The solution also comes with offline optimization features. The solution also tweaks the Internet Connection Sharing settings in Windows 98SE and it is also able to tweak the caching of DNS in Windows 2000 and XP.

This solution is priced at $24.95. Being able to optimize the connection both online and offline is what makes the solution worth the extra dollars. It can meter and optimize the upload speeds as well.

Next up is Internet Tweak from Magelass Corp. Unlike other accelerators in the category, this is the only one which claims to optimize not only your web surfing speeds but also the speeds of you email client. So your second most important activity on the Internet also becomes way faster. The solution works by optimizing the settings at three levels. It works by optimizing the settings of your DSL modem, your web browser and even your email client.

The solution is priced at $19. For the options and features that are provided by this software package, $19 is not a price, it is a steal!

These DSL speed accelerator solutions are also capable of improving the VoIP line speeds. These tools can improve the speeds but it is recommended that you should read reviews before making purchase decision.

With all that it has to offer, the Internet is also a place that can be dangerous for children, despite the best efforts of high speed Internet providers. Pornography sites are everywhere - it can be worrisome letting your kids roam free online when you know there is so much damaging material floating around in cyberspace. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to ensure the safety of your children:

1. Don't be afraid to talk with your kids about the dangers that exist online. Pornography is not the only concern - violence and hate sites are also a problem. Discussing the realities of the Internet is important because if your kids accidentally come across objectionable material, they will comfortable enough to tell you about it.

2. Make it clear that giving out personal information online is a big no-no. Tell them never to meet up with someone they have met online, or send photographs to strangers on the Internet. Warn your kids never to respond to threatening e-mails.

3. High speed Internet providers often have excellent parental controls in place for filtering content. If you set the controls up properly, the filter will block questionable websites, chat rooms, newsgroups, and other areas of the Internet that children should stay away from.

4. Take initiative and find out what your school's policy is for Internet usage. Your child's school should have an acceptable use policy (AUP) for Internet access, outlining that all use of the Internet is supervised by an adult.

5. Pay attention to your children's behavior. If you walk into their room and they act suspicious or become nervous, something could be wrong. These responses may be a sign that your kids are accessing inappropriate sites or communicating with someone they don't know outside of the Internet.

6. If in the course of monitoring your children's online activity you discover that they've received pornographic or disturbing spam or IM messages, contact your ISP and report the problem. Your children should not be exposed to this kind of material in their inboxes.

7. Although checking the browser's history isn't foolproof (smart kids will know to delete the history after going online) it's still a good way to keep track of things. And if you notice large chunks of time missing from the history, something may be going on that you should check into.

8. Most kids are pretty obvious when they try to hide something. Set up the family computer in a busy area, and pay attention to what your kids are doing online. If they quickly close windows when you walk by, monitor their online activities more closely.

9. Keep informed about the latest technologies, especially for Internet monitoring. New products entering the market may offer better ways to monitor your kids Internet activities.

10. Don't carry out every monitoring activity incognito - be as upfront with your kids as possible, and let them know you're keeping tabs for safety purposes. Your kids will trust you more this way, and will be more willing to talk to you if they need help.

When you open your e-mail inbox, what do you usually find? Your inbox might very well be full of messages from work, family, friends, as well as those notifications from your RSS feeds and whichever social networking sites you belong to.

However, in amongst all those nice little messages are usually those annoying little spam messages - usually offering some way to increase the size of certain body parts, promising large sums of money in foreign currency (all in exchange for your bank account details - yeah right!) and a plethora of other rubbish that is usually confined to a junk mail folder of your e-mail client.

Yes, spam e-mails have become the bane of every computer user over the years. Many will simply delete the offending messages before opening them, but there are still many who will open curious e-mails and be met with malicious software being installed on their machine without them knowing about it.

Lots of us now have access to broadband connections and utilise e-mail in our daily lives. In order to filter out the junk we make use of filters, options on our e-mails that will divert suspicious looking messages into a separate folder, ensuring a safer and less cluttered inbox.

Recently, an internet security company recruited 50 people around the world to turn off their junk mail filters in an attempt to find out the scale of the spam problem, and the results were rather shocking.

Participants were encouraged to reply to those e-mails they received and to investigate the websites that were advertised, with a whopping 104,000 spam messages received during the trial.

Many of these e-mails will attempt to encourage you to open them and then install malware, spyware and a host of viruses onto your machine - ultimately slowing down broadband internet connections and the performance of your PC as a whole.

Many broadband providers will have some form of junk mail filter on their in-house e-mail clients, which can be activated through their browser and ensures safety while browsing.

Protection is key to ensuring that your machine does not become infected with nasties. Choose your virus checker and spyware protection software carefully. If you suspect that your computer has been infected, seek assistance from a professional computer technician.

And remember, don't open e-mails from sources you don't trust.