Your
PC is connected to every other PC on the Internet, right
now. Think of it like a window, yes you can look out but
others can look in also!
A
|
A
firewall is a piece of software that sits between your pc
and the internet. The firewall controlls traffic in and
out of your PC acting like a two way mirror, you can see
out but nobody can see in.
B
|
Every
computer communicates with the outside world via "ports"
which are holes. A firewall manages each port and what goes
in and out. Penokio uses the same port as IE so the IT staff
do not have to "punch" a new hole in the firewall
(they hate that).
C
|
Imagine
two bits of code that are identical to each other and so
complicated that they cannot be guessed. That's what an
"encrypted key" is. One piece is in the desktop
software, the other is on our servers. This allows your
PC to talk to our servers in private.
We use 128Bit encryption similar to that required for online
banking.
D |
The
"tunnel" or encrypted connection between the two
computes (ours and yours) allows you to use any browser
(IE or WAP, Blackberry, PDA etc) to ask for and recieve
information from your computer without "leaving the
door wide open" to others..
This method means that our firewalls, intrusion detection
and staff act as bouncers for your PC connection..
E |
|
