See if your firewall is working

February 29, 2024

Even if a hacker knows your computer’s location and IP address, a firewall keeps them from accessing your system and network.

Newer Windows and Mac systems have built-in software firewalls — but one wrong setting can leave your computer vulnerable. I know it sounds complicated, but there’s a simple way to check if yours is working.

Gibson Research Corporation’s (GRC) ShieldsUP!! scans your firewall to make sure your ports aren’t exposed. If ShieldsUP!! can see your ports over the internet, so can someone else with the right port-scanning tools.

• Click Proceed on the home page and then the GRC’s Instant UPnP Exposure Test button on the following page.
• If your computer doesn’t respond to the test, your firewall is working. Yay!
• If there are issues, GRC links to how-tos and articles to check for common problems.

🌨️ If girls are made of sugar, spice and everything nice and boys are made of slime, snails, and puppy-dog tails, what’s the cloud made from? Linux servers, mostly.