You are discussing computer security with a group of high sc

You are discussing computer security with a group of high school students attending a technology workshop, and you are mentioning software firewalls, such as the firewall available on Windows computers. Of the following, what is the standard configuration method for software firewalls on personal computers?

A. Deny all traffic through the firewall.

B. Deny all traffic through the firewall, but allow exceptions for Web traffic and e-mail only.

C. Deny all traffic through the firewall, but allow exceptions for Web traffic, e-mail, and any other computer program that might need outside access such as antivirus and diagnostic programs.

D. Allow all traffic through the firewall, but specify exceptions for denial, such as for malicious programs.

Solution

C. The most common and reasonable software firewall configuration is to deny all traffic and then allow exceptions for all the programs you need to communicate through the firewall, including to the Internet. This would likely include Web traffic, e-mail, instant messaging, and possibly remote desktop and diagnostics programs that need to communicate with Microsoft.