Firewalls are software or hardware that work as a filtration system for the data attempting to enter your computer or network. Firewalls scan packets for malicious code or attack vectors that have already been identified as established threats. Firewalls filter network traffic so that you only receive data that you should be getting. No firewall works perfectly, and a lot of a firewall's effectiveness depends on how you configure it. The need of Firewalls for Personal Use For home use, firewalls work much more simply. The main goal of a personal firewall is to protect your personal computer and private network from malicious mischief. Malware, malicious software, is the primary threat to your home computer. Viruses are often the first type of malware that comes to mind. A virus can be transmitted to your computer through email or over the Internet and can quickly cause a lot of damage to your files. Other malware inclu...