Computer Safety - Using a Firewall

A firewall works to monitor and block or allow network traffic, both incoming and outgoing, on a private network or individual computer. While there is a hardware firewall to help protect the CUMC and NYP shared campus network, it's still important to use a personal software firewall on your computer as well.

Personal Firewalls
The latest operating systems include built-in firewalls for extra security. These tend to be the easiest to work with, and are pre-configured to allow commonly used programs send and receive necessary data through your network connections. You can find instructions on using both the Windows XP and Macintosh OSX firewalls at CUIT Security's built-in firewalls site; please contact the Information Commons with any questions or issues. If you are using a department-owned computer you may not have access to change the OS firewall settings and should contact your 2nd level IT staff for assistance.

Other personal firewalls such as Zone Alarm and Norton are available, however these require a higher level of technical proficiency and can be frustrating for the average person. They typically work by notifying you when any data or programs attempt to enter or exit your computer, allowing you to set default access for specific programs and computer processes. If you decide to use a non-OS firewall, make sure you read its instructions carefully, as some features will have to be configured to allow access to resources and programs you want to use.

Network Firewalls
Network firewalls are not allowed on the CUMC campus network unless managed or approved by Core Resources, as stated in the CUMC IT Firewall policy. Core does manage the hardware firewall that secures the shared CUMC and NYP campus network, however this firewall does not effect the vast majority of academic or work related programs used on the CUMC campus.

Blocked Programs
Programs that are blocked by default on the CUMC/NYP firewall include Bittorrent and VoIP. Anyone requiring access to these programs must have approval from their Department Chair or higher, and must submit the appropriate Firewall Exclusion Request from our Online Service Requests page with complete information. This requires advanced technical knowledge including ports and protocols used; if you do not know these you must contact your department's 2nd level or higher IT staff for assistance, the Information Commons help desk provides 1st level support and is not able to assist in finding this information.

Students who would like to use blocked programs in campus housing can contact an Internet Service Provider such as Verizon or Time Warner and run the program over the private ISP's connection. If a program is required for academic use, you must get approval from you school's Dean.

Streaming video in QuickTime may require special configuration to be allowed through your firewall(s). For instructions on changing QuickTime's settings, please see CNMTL's page at:
http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/video/windows_firewall/

« Backing up your computer | Risky Practices »