How To Protect Your Computer Network From Identity Thieves

How can I protect my computer network from identity thieves?

If you're set up in a home network, you have to first understand the risks revolving around file sharing, especially concerning identity theft. Anybody who taps into your network, even if they're plugged in, can access your files if you have set up file sharing. So there are inherent risks along with that. When you set up file sharing, essentially you're opening up certain ports on your PC to allow others to access your data. If you are going to have file sharing set up, make sure that it's people in your network that you know, like, and trust, and you aren't going to compromise your data. In addition to that, when it comes to firewalls make sure that you have redundant firewalls. Your router comes with a firewall and your operating system comes with a firewall but I would also install an additional firewall. Microsoft's firewall only protects you from the outside in, and it does not monitor data as it goes out to the internet. Whereas many other third-party firewalls will monitor what's being sent out to the internet, making that much more secure.