Network firewalls protect businesses from cyber attacks such as phishing and ransomware. They do this by blocking communications with servers on the Internet that have been reported as being malicious. 


Firewalls are quite effective but like anything, they are not perfect. For example, when a new malicious server comes online, it will take some time for a firewall to learn that it is a threat. During that time it will not be blocked. There can also be false positives if a server is incorrectly reported as malicious. 


So here are some things to keep in mind:


  1. You are more likely to encounter threats on unfamiliar websites. Restrict your web browsing to known legitimate sites such (amazon.com, apple.com, samsung.com, etc.). By exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities malicious website can instantly infect your computer when you visit it.

  2. Never click on a link in an email unless it is something you were expecting--even if it appears to have been sent by someone you know. Phishing schemes fool their victims by forging messages to make them appear to have been sent by friends, colleagues, or legitimate businesses or institutions.

  3. If you are blocked from accessing a legitimate website it could be a false positive. Just open a support ticket and report it so we can whitelist the site for you. Be sure to include the website address (e.g., www.homedepot.com) in the ticket.