Computer Privacy

It involves many issues and practices that users need to know to insure their computer privacy. From passwords to proxy servers and firewalls, many factors protect computer privacy.

Router-firewalls protect the computer privacy of small network users because they help to secure the network using a protocol called NAT (Network Address Translation). Basically, NAT hides the computer privacy from the rest of the Internet and uses the router-firewall as a mediator for all communication to and from the Internet. If a cracker can't break into computer privacy of the network, he can't rifle through the personal documents, financial records, or other vital computer privacy information that resides on that network. Thus the confidentiality of the data stored on the computer privacy on that network is secured.

The nice thing about router-firewalls is that they are computer privacy operating system-independent. It doesn't matter if the network consists of Windows, Mac OS, & Linux computers - all will be computer privacy protected by an efficiently guarded perimeter. Best of all, most SOHO devices can be bought for less than $100. Better yet, users can build their own computer privacy router-firewall using an old cpu, two Ethernet cards, and some computer privacy software. There are a number of commercial solutions available for Windows users. Linux users, however, have a wealth of free options available to them for computer privacy. Check out the Linux Router Project, a version of Linux designed to fit on a floppy and turn an old computer privacy into a fast, efficient router-firewall.