What is a Firewall?
A firewall is a security system that monitors your incoming and outgoing network traffic to detect and block cyber threats. It acts as a barrier or checking scanner between internal and external networks. It filters and scans every data packet passing through your device’s Networking System to identify and block malicious and suspicious elements. It works under prescribed security protocols to label an element as a threat or legitimate. It constantly filters every data packet that goes out or comes in from your device network. If anything fishy enters your network traffic that does not comply with the coded security rules, it takes quick action to block and label the packet as dangerous. It will give you timely alerts regarding harmful elements to help you avoid the underlying risk.
How Does Firewall Improve Your Cybersecurity?
A firewall consists of advanced tools and technologies that enable it to prevent malware attacks and secure device connections. It is like a gateway between an internal and an external Networking System. It scans and checks all the data packets passing through this gateway. It tracks the state of active connections to make sure you are getting a legitimate and safe response to your online requests. To do so, it records the source and destination IP addresses, ports, and the protocol. It creates a stable state table to keep track of connections and monitors continuous communication to ensure this. It makes sure that all the elements and requests match the security protocols and existing safety states. If anything mismatches, then it is flagged as unsafe.
A firewall hides your IP address from the outside networked system to provide you with enhanced computer system security and online privacy. Using this tool, you can browse the internet services without any fear of spies and online trackers. It encrypts your connection and the server requests from the third pirates, interceptors, and spying agents lurking in between the networks. As a result, your PC and digital system security remains intact. In addition to this, a firewall blocks malicious activities hackers make to access your PC network. It keeps your confidential data secure from all malicious programs launched by black hats on the internet. Therefore, a firewall can actively enhance your cybersecurity and allow you to browse the internet risk-free.
What Are The Different Types Of Firewalls?
There are different types of firewalls representing different functions, forms, and the devices they protect. Each has its own strengths and advantages in different contexts and digital infrastructures. For better understanding, this write-up categorizes firewalls into three general types. They are as follows:
1. Network Firewalls
Network firewalls are high-tech security systems designed to monitor and screen data traffic on a huge network. It protects multiple devices, databases, and the internal digital infrastructure of an organization from external threats. These tools block cyber attacks, prevent unauthorized access, and secure confidential information. The network firewall analyzes all the data packets for details like IP addresses, ports, and protocols. Based on the predefined rules, it stops potential intruders or malicious software from entering the internal network. Organizations use them to secure their digital infrastructure from cyberattacks and maintain data integrity.
Key Examples Of Network Firewalls Are As Follows:
- Packet-Filtering Firewalls
- Stateful Inspection Firewalls
- Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)
2. Application Firewalls
These are software types of firewalls that are used to inspect and monitor specific types of traffic, including websites, social media, and OTT platforms. It controls traffic at a more minute level to block malicious threats and prevent cyber attacks. It acts as an intermediary between the user and the online services and equips additional app-level security features.
Key Examples of Application Firewalls Include:
- Proxy Firewalls
- NGFWs
3. Software Firewalls
It is installed on devices, servers, mobiles, and hosts. It offers localized security and personal traffic monitoring for individuals to deal with deadly cyber-attacks.
Examples:
It includes apps or programs directly installed on a device to filter online traffic.
Which Firewall Is Most Commonly Used?
The most commonly used firewalls on devices are Packet Filtering, Stateful Inspection, and NGFWs. Packet filtering is used in homes to protect routers and small networks. Stateful Inspection offers enhanced security for both small and large networks. It can protect small infrastructure in small businesses from a variety of cyber threats. NGFWs is an advanced firewall system capable of providing all-out cybersecurity for big enterprises. It uses a combination of traditional and latest tools and technologies such as app awareness, IPS, and minute control over the network traffic. It acts as a screening machine that keeps a sharp eye on the entire enterprise networks and defends them from potential online threats.
Where A Firewall Is Placed?
It is placed between a computer system and external networking such as the internet, router and server. For example, in a small digital setting, you use a computer. Your computer is connected to the router with the ethernet cable, and your router is connected to the external internet service system. In this situation, you place a physical firewall system that connects. Your PC connects to it first, and then the Firewall connects to the router, which remains connected to the outer internet service cable. So, it becomes a barrier between internal and external networking. All the online traffic passes through it first for screening and then enters your PC. In this process, all the cyber threats are blocked before they enter your computer.
If we talk about software firewalls, then they have the same intermediary position in the virtual digital environment. It acts as a program that checks and analyzes all the internet traffic and data packets between your device and the outside internet system. It scans all the information moving between your device and external internet connections for malicious programs. It keeps your online activities and system integrity intact.
Can A Firewall Be Hacked?
Yes! A firewall can be hacked if there is an internal vulnerability or mechanical discrepancy. There are zero-day vulnerabilities, backdoors, and data packet header manipulations that cybercriminals use to attack users. Firewalls often fail to prevent these cyberattacks. Here is how it works:
Zero-day vulnerability
Zero-day vulnerabilities are the latest cyber-attacks that are totally unknown and highly complex. Due to their novelty and complexity, firewalls often need help to determine these attacks. The vendors need to learn about them, and it takes time to develop appropriate solutions to deal with them. By the time the solution is ready, a lot of users will become victims of zero-day vulnerabilities. However, if you use an NGFW program, you can eliminate such problems better. It uses high-tech security mechanisms with a combination of new and old tools to deal with the latest and deadly cyber threats.
Backdoors
Backdoors are loose points and design discrepancies in firewall coding. Hackers can find these vulnerabilities and gaps using reverse engineering and a variety of lab experiments. Black hats often exploit these security vulnerabilities to bypass a firewall. To deal with this situation, the vendors need to verify all the internal mechanisms, tools and techniques to find the weaknesses and repair them before the bad actors find them. Constant and precise revisions and improvements help prevent backdoor problems in firewalls.
Header Manipulation
Header manipulation is another sophisticated trick black hats use to bypass firewalls. It is a process that includes IP spoofing, fragmentation, TCP header manipulation, using uncommon ports and app layer header manipulation.
The common thing in all these processes involves changing packet characteristics, breaking down data into smaller parts, planting malicious codes with legitimate protocols and obfuscating data into an unrecognizable form. These manipulations make the malicious programs look legitimate and conform to the security rules. Firewalls often become confused in this situation and let the malicious data packet pass to the device.
Vendors have to configure more settings in their security system to cut the header vulnerabilities and prevent backdoor attacks. They need to develop a robust mechanism to identify fragmented files and invalid traffic. They need to limit the exposure and validate the HTTP traffic in the mechanism.
Can A Firewall Slow Internet Speed?
Certainly, a firewall can slow internet speed and online access time on your PC. This is because the integrated firewall system in your device inspects and analyzes all the data packets for security and legitimacy. This process takes time. As a result, you will experience a slow internet speed or data access on your PC. If the screening throughput is low, then it is highly likely to experience more sluggish internet speed. Sometimes, firewalls lower the connection bandwidth to prevent quick access to online content to prevent malicious attacks.
