1. What is a firewall?

   A firewall acts as a gateway through which the information passing between your computer and external systems (the Internet) must pass. The firewall analyzes that information and rejects intruders who do not conform to pre-configured rules.

   A firewall helps protect you from outside attacks and helps keep unauthorized data from entering your computer. Computers connected to the Internet are vulnerable, but those with high-speed access are the easiest targets, as they provide an always-on connection

2. I have a hardware firewall on my router. Will a firewall on my PC improve my protection?

   Yes. Both firewalls will improve protection.

   PC-based firewalls, like TELUS Firewall service, provide additional protection for your PC as they:

   • Help block your PC's input ports. TELUS Firewall uses "Stealth" mode, which means hackers may not know where your PC is. When hackers spot an IP address, they may hack their way into your network.

   • Scan and analyze the data that comes into your PC to detect suspicious activities.

   • Monitor when your PC wants to send information out to the Internet. Some "Trojan Horse" programs can infiltrate your PC and work to send your private files out.

   • Provides protection behind the router.

3. How can I ensure that my TELUS Firewall service is working?

   To ensure your TELUS Firewall is working:

   • View the log of your Internet activity by clicking on the word "View" at the top of the TELUS Internet Security software screen and select "Console"

   • With your TELUS Firewall active, you will see entries such as "TELUS Firewall allowing 'application x' to access www.website.com". This demonstrates that the TELUS Firewall is protecting your Internet connections.

   • TELUS Firewall also alerts you when unauthorized connections to your computer have been blocked. You will see a "Protected by TELUS" alert, and you can view a log of blocked connections in the TELUS Firewall Blocked Packet Log.

   • Some Web sites offer firewall tests.

4. Will two TELUS Firewall Programs Provide more protection on my PC?

   No. With most programs, you will not gain any additional protection. Furthermore, the presence of two different firewall programs may cause conflicts that may jeopardize the protective capabilities of the software and could considerably slow down your computer. Make sure to uninstall any other security software prior to installing TELUS Internet Security software.

5. What are the common firewall alerts and explanations?

   The 4 firewall alerts include:

   • "Do you want to let access the Internet?"
     This message appears when one of your applications is trying to access the Internet. Choosing "allow" will let the traffic come through for this application, while choosing "block" will stop it.

   • "Do you want to let act as a server?"
     This message appears when one of your applications is trying to set itself up as a server. When acting as a server, an application doesn't actively access the Internet, but instead accepts connections from outside your computer. This is necessary for some applications, such as Internet Explorer.

   • "TELUS Internet Security Privacy Risk"
     This message appears when an application is trying to access the Internet by bypassing the Security network. It warns you that the connection made by the program will not be anonymous. This can happen if the program is using a protocol not supported by TELUS Internet Security (like ICQ).

   • "Blocked packet"
     This message informs you that the TELUS Firewall has blocked incoming date because it was potentially dangerous and did not appear to be owned by an application.
     
     To disable this alert:

   • Click on the flame-like icon, located on the TELUS console

   • In the left-hand pane of the window, click on the "+" sign next to "Personal Firewall"

   • Select "Advanced Preferences"

   • On the right, verify that "Enable incoming packet warning dialog" is not checked

   To monitor these packets through the firewall log:

   • Click on the flame-like icon, located on the TELUS console

   • Click on the "+" sign next to "Personal Firewall" in the left-hand pane of the window

   • Select "Firewall log"

6. The TELUS Firewall asks which applications should connect to the Internet. How do I know which ones to allow?

   Some applications, such as your Windows operating system, have built-in functions that poll over the Internet for the latest security software updates. These upgrades provide added security for your PC. Therefore it's important that you allow these upgrades.

   Other applications such as Microsoft Word or tax programs may also benefit from upgrades over the Internet. However, the applications may contain potentially sensitive information. Consider allowing these applications permission to communicate with the Internet for individual requests without granting future permission.

   The firewall also alerts you to unfamiliar applications. You may not want to allow unfamiliar applications access to the Internet. Complete an Internet search for the application name requested to learn more.

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