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What are the most common mistakes made when configuring a firewall?

Danyel Rodrigo

Fireswalls are like guards that protect your computer or your network from bad guys trying to get in. But if you don't configure them properly, they might not be doing their job right and bad guys will sneak in. So, let's talk about the most common mistakes people make when configuring a firewall.

First, some people don't turn on the firewall in the first place. Imagine your house with no doors or windows, anyone can just walk in and take your stuff. It's the same with computers, if you don't turn on the firewall, bad guys can just walk in and steal your information.

Second, some people don't update their firewall. Just like your mom and dad remind you to wash your hands to stay healthy, you need to update your firewall to keep it healthy. Updates have new features and fixes for known security issues. So, make sure you update your firewall from time to time.

Third, some people configure the firewall too loosely. Imagine giving everyone in the playground a key to your house. That would be chaos! The same goes for a firewall, if you allow everyone and everything in, bad guys can sneak in too. So you need to set strict rules and only allow what you need and trust.

Fourth, some people configure the firewall too strictly. Imagine locking yourself in your room and not letting anyone in, not even your mom and dad! The same can happen with the firewall, if you set the rules too strictly, you might block good traffic too. This will make it difficult for you to use the internet or the network.

Lastly, some people don't test the firewall after configuring it. Imagine building a Lego tower but not checking if it's stable enough to hold other Legos on top. The same goes for the firewall, you need to test it after configuring to make sure it's doing its job right and blocking bad guys.

In summary, turning on the firewall, updating it, configuring it properly, testing it and finding the right balance between strictness and looseness are essential to keep your computer and network safe from bad guys.