Firewall system and method with network mapping capabilities

1. A method for tracing a traffic event utilizing a firewall, comprising:

(a) executing a firewall on a local computer;

(b) monitoring traffic events between the local computer and a remote computer over a network utilizing the firewall;

(c) displaying the traffic events utilizing the firewall;

(d) tracing at least one of the traffic events utilizing the firewall; and

(e) displaying a world map with an illustration of the trace thereon utilizing the firewall.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the traffic events are displayed in an event log.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the event log identifies a time and an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the traffic events.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the traffic events are organized based on times the traffic events are logged.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the traffic events include attempts to access the local computer.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic event is traced in response to a user request.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tracing includes identifying a plurality of network segments traversed by the traffic event.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the map includes the network segments.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , and further comprising displaying a plurality of views.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein a geographical location of the network segments is displayed upon the selection of a first one of the views.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein nodes of the network segments are displayed upon the selection of a second one of the views.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein a list of the network segments are displayed upon the selection of a third one of the views.

13. A computer program product for tracing a traffic event utilizing a firewall, comprising:

(a) computer code for executing a firewall on a local computer;

(b) computer code for monitoring traffic events between the local computer and a remote computer over a network utilizing the firewall;

(c) computer code for displaying the traffic events utilizing the firewall;

(d) computer code for tracing at least one of the traffic events utilizing the firewall; and

(e) computer code for displaying a world map with an illustration of the trace thereon utilizing the firewall.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 13 , wherein the traffic events are displayed in an event log.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 , wherein the event log identifies a time and an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the traffic events.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 , wherein the traffic events are organized based on times the traffic events are logged.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 , wherein the traffic events include attempts to access the local computer.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 13 , wherein the at least one traffic event is traced in response to a user request.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 13 , wherein the tracing includes identifying a plurality of network segments traversed by the traffic event.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein the map includes the network segments.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 20 , and further comprising computer code for displaying a plurality of views.

22. The computer program product as recited in claim 21 , wherein a geographical location of the network segments is displayed upon the selection of a first one of the views.

23. The computer program product as recited in claim 22 , wherein nodes of the network segments are displayed upon the selection of a second one of the views.

24. The computer program product as recited in claim 23 , wherein a list of the network segments are displayed upon the selection of a third one of the views.

25. A system for tracing a traffic event utilizing a firewall, comprising:

(a) logic for executing a firewall on a local computer;

(b) logic for monitoring traffic events between the local computer and a remote computer over a network utilizing the firewall;

(c) logic for displaying the traffic events utilizing the firewall;

(d) logic for tracing at least one of the traffic events utilizing the firewall; and

(e) logic for displaying a world map with an illustration of the trace thereon utilizing the firewall.

26. A method for tracing a traffic event utilizing a firewall, comprising:

(a) executing a firewall on a local computer;

(b) monitoring traffic events between the local computer and a remote computer over a network utilizing the firewall;

(c) displaying the traffic events utilizing the firewall;

(d) tracing at least one of the traffic events utilizing the firewall;

(e) displaying a geographical location of a plurality of network segments associated with the traffic event on a world map upon the selection of a first one of a plurality of views utilizing the firewall;

(f) displaying a plurality of nodes of the network segments upon the selection of a second one of the views utilizing the firewall; and

(g) displaying a list of the network segments upon the selection of a third one of the views utilizing the firewall.

27. A method for tracing a traffic event utilizing a firewall, comprising:

(a) executing a firewall on a local computer;

(b) monitoring traffic events between the local computer and a remote computer over a network utilizing the firewall;

(c) logging the traffic events in an event log utilizing the firewall, wherein the event log identifies a time and an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the traffic events;

(d) organizing the traffic events in the event log based on times the traffic events are logged utilizing the firewall;

(e) displaying the traffic events in the event log utilizing the firewall;

(f) detecting the selection of one of the traffic event by a user;

(g) tracing at least one of the traffic events utilizing the firewall upon the selection thereof, wherein the tracing identifies a plurality of network segments traversed by the traffic event;

(h) detecting the selection of one of a plurality of views by the user; and

(i) displaying the network segments in the selected view upon the selection of one of the views, wherein one of the views includes a world map with an illustration of a trace thereon.

28. A method for geographically tracing a traffic event utilizing a personal firewall, comprising:

monitoring traffic events between a local computer and a remote computer over a network utilizing a personal firewall;

displaying the traffic events in an event log utilizing the personal firewall, wherein the traffic events are organized based on a time associated therewith;

tracing at least one of the traffic events utilizing the personal firewall; and

displaying the trace on a world map utilizing the personal firewall,

wherein the at least one traffic event is traced in response to a user request.

29. A computer program product for geographically tracing a traffic event utilizing a personal firewall, comprising:

computer code for monitoring traffic events between a local computer and a remote computer over a network utilizing a personal firewall;

computer code for displaying the traffic events in an event log utilizing the personal firewall, wherein the traffic events are organized based on a time associated therewith;

computer code for tracing at least one of the traffic events utilizing the personal firewall; and

computer code for displaying the trace on a world map utilizing the personal firewall,

wherein the at least one traffic event is traced in response to a user request;

wherein the trace is shown to involve a plurality of displayed network segments shown to be spanning different cities of different countries displayed on the world map.