How to Increase Firewall Protection ?


With the constant threat of Internet hackers and identity thieves it is vital that your computer is fully protected and always updated for the latest viruses and malware. The Windows firewall, a default with most PCs, is a powerful anti-virus tool that can be configured to increase your computer's protection.

Instructions

Navigate to your Computer's Control Panel located in the Start Menu. Double-click on the "Windows Firewall" icon to open a new window. The Windows Firewall icon is represented by the image of a brick wall with the planet earth behind it.

Ensure that the Windows Firewall is switched on. If your firewall is not switched on your computer is susceptible to incoming viruses, Trojan horses and malicious files. Click the "On (recommended)" button to turn on your firewall.

Click the "Exceptions" tab at the top of the Windows Firewall window. You are still allowing certain programs and applications to download and transfer packages through your PC although your firewall is running. By altering the Exceptions of your firewall you can increase the protection of your PC. Clicking on the "Exceptions" tab opens a new window section.

Un-tick some of the programs that are more likely to contain or traffic malicious files. For example, P2P file-sharing programs such as Limewire, Ares and UTorrent are not 100 per cent regulated or checked for viruses.

Update your firewall with a Windows Service Pack. Windows is constantly updating the firewall software of its Operating Systems and this means that any new or previously-unknown malware will now be recognized and prevented from accessing your PC. Your computer will let you know and warn you when these new malicious files are accessing your computer.

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How to Import Bookmarks Into Firefox ?

Importing bookmarks from another computer or other web browser into Firefox is easy. With just a few clicks, your bookmarks will be saved into your Mozilla Firefox browser.

Instructions

Open up a Firefox window.
       
Click on the "Bookmarks" menu and select "Manage Bookmarks." If you are using Firefox 3.6.2, then you need to click on "Organize Bookmarks..."
        

In the window that pops up click on the "File" menu and select "Import." In case of Firefox 3.6.2, click on "Import and Backup" just above the list. Then click on the "Import HTML" option from the drop-down list. A new window comes up.
      

Select the "Microsoft Internet Explorer" option if you are importing favorites from Internet Explorer on the same computer. Then click next. If you are importing from a file of saved bookmarks or favorites choose "From File" and click next.
        

Select the file in the open window that pops up and then click "Open" if you are importing from a file. Firefox will do the rest for you. If importing from Internet Explorer, just click "Finished" when it's done.


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Firefox: Benefit Analysis versus Internet Explorer

Most of Firefox's advantages are MSIE's disadvantages, and vice-versa. This article will look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of Firefox in relation to MSIE.

Advantages

Security

Security is often cited as the primary reason for users switching from MSIE to Firefox. Security is of utmost importance for software that interacts with remote computers, in an era of high security risk activities such as online banking.

Firefox has fewer security holes and a tighter schedule of disclosing them. The enhanced security in Firefox is due to a multitude of factors the system's inclusion of more source code reviewers and a better bug reporting system and exclusion of VBScript/ActiveX, often the source of vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has been clamoring for years to try to clamp down on the MSIE security holes. It acquired an anti-spyware product, which it released under the banner of Microsoft AntiSpyware. It also promises its new Windows Vista platform will be more secure. However, Microsoft's track record to date has done little to boost the confidence of today's user.
Standards compliance

Firefox has vaulted ahead of MSIE with improved support for standard web protocols, such as its superior stylesheet compatibility.

Since MSIE had a leading marketshare, the company had less interest in conforming to web standards, and instead focused on proprietary protocols, with the goal of maintaining their market position. That is, the focus of Microsoft was to try to convert as much of its userbase to writing webpages and web applications that required a proprietary MSIE-approach, so that down the road, users would be less able to move off a Microsoft platform.
As a result, Microsoft neglected for years to improve support for basic open standards. For example, transparent PNG graphics did not work all the way through to MSIE version 6.

Multiple operating system platforms

Firefox is available for users who runs Windows (Windows 98 through to Windows XP), Mac OS X, all the leading versions of Linux, as well as some lesser-used operating systems. In comparison, Microsoft has dropped development for Mac, and other non-Windows systems. Furthermore, Microsoft has ceased new development even on their own versions of Windows, making the new MSIE only available to users who have a license for Windows XP.
Firefox also has a similar user interface among the different operating platforms. For deployments that have a mix of operating platforms (such as Linux for the techs, Macs for the graphic designers, and Windows for the accounts department), moving to Firefox for everyone thus brings technical support costs down.

Time-saving browser innovations

Internet communication and interaction is a core component for most modern businesses. Efficient use of web browser time translates to increased profits, so innovations to help workers do their tasks faster are welcomed.
Firefox leads MSIE in this regard, with out-of-the-box features such as integrated Google search in the toolbar, placing the find-within-page box at the bottom of the browser window so as not to obscure the text, and so on.

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Mozilla Firefox: The Best Internet Browser

Many people do not realize that they have a choice when it comes to choosing an Internet browser, but they do. The fact is that the best web browser is probably not the one that came pre-installed on your PC. In this article, we will tell you why.

When you buy a laptop computer, you typically receive a lot of built-in software. The first piece of software that you see on any new machine is the operating system itself. For most of you, this will be either Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, the latest version of the Microsoft operating system. This operating system software is “the director” in your computer, allowing everything else to function properly.

As you will note, all of the operating systems listed above are made by Microsoft. So, what software do you use when you actually surf the Internet?

Well, a large percentage of you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, which typically comes bundled with your computer. In fact, some competitors were using names like “monopoloy” when referring to how Microsoft bundles their other software to go with all new computers.

Because it is the only immediately available Internet browser on many of the latest best selling laptops, many consumers do not even realize that they have a choice.

But when it comes to using a web browser to surf the Internet, there are choices beyond Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and you may find you prefer other browsers to the one pre-installed on your machine.

In fact, the Internet Explorer that comes with your new top rated netbook has not been recognized as the market leader. Another product called Mozilla Firefox has.

For those who know they have an option when it comes to a browser-based products, Mozilla Firefox has become the overwhelming choice because it simply performs better.

What is the one thing that people crave most in a web browser? The answer is speed. In speed tests, Firefox has proven to be much faster than its Microsoft counterpart and this alone often convinces people to switch to Firefox.

However, there are many things other than speed that people love about Firefox. You will hear a confusing term called extensibility, which is also loved by technical folks and end-users alike. This essentially means that you can easily add things to Firefox and tailor it to your needs. For example, I have a Spanish dictionary plug-in that I love.

So, when it comes to the best web browser, the pre-installed one is not always the best. Give Mozilla Firefox a try and you may be in store for a very pleasant surprise.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Mozilla-Firefox---The-Best-Internet-Browser/1737712