Firewall technology has transformed the internet community into a safer space. As we all know, computers are prone to attacks every time you connect to the internet. And this can pose serious threats to your devices and sensitive data. Although most people use an antivirus application to guard their systems, this may not be enough, and you still need to install a firewall. This works by blocking malware from interfering with your network and computers.
Understanding firewalls and how they work
A firewall is a form of network security device. It monitors both incoming and outgoing network traffic and uses specific security rules to allow or prohibit data packets. The main goal is to create a barrier between your network and the incoming traffic. This bars malicious traffic like viruses and hackers who can invade your network. Firewalls can also be used in a large scale to filter out content or applications. For instance, China uses its national firewall system to prevent its population from accessing certain websites and content that may be detrimental to the county’s national security. If you do a China firewall test, you will be able to determine if a website is blocked in the country.
What are the different types of firewalls?
You can get firewalls in the form of software or hardware, and it’s advisable to have both. The software is a program installed on your device to regulate traffic, while a physical firewall is installed between your network and gateway.
The common firewall types are;
1. Packet-filtering firewall
This is the most common type and plays a vital role in securing your systems. It examines packets and prevents them from getting through if they fail to match some security regulations. Also, it checks the source and destination IP addresses of the packet. However, this type of firewall is limited and may not determine whether the contents of the request being sent will harm the application.
2. Next-generation firewalls (NGFW)
Next-generation firewalls (NGFW) combine conventional firewall technology and enhanced functionality. These can be, for instance, intrusion prevention systems and antivirus. It includes deep packet inspection, which examines your data within the packet. Thus enabling you to identify, categorize and stop packets containing malicious data.
- Proxy firewalls
A proxy firewall works as an intermediary between two end systems. It filters traffic at the application level. What’s more, the firewall monitors and uses stateful and deep packet inspection to unearth malicious traffic.
- Stateful multilayer inspection (SMLI)
Stateful multilayer inspection firewalls inspect the entire packet, allowing it to pass if each layer is passed. The firewall analyses packets to determine the communication status, which ensures that all initiated communication is from trustworthy sources. It functions in a similar way as the great firewall test, which employs mechanisms like packet filtering and IP blocking to block unsuitable content.
- Network address translation (NAT) firewalls
With Network address translation (NAT) firewalls, you can connect multiple devices with different network addresses to the internet using a single IP address. This improves data security by making attackers unable to collect detailed information. NAT firewalls work almost the same way as proxy firewalls by acting as an intermediate between a group of computers and outside traffic.
In summary, there are different types of firewalls, and using one will help enhance your online security. However, it’s best to acquire the software from a reputed dealer to ensure quality. Also, discuss the different types of firewalls to suit your needs and other ways to secure your systems against malicious attacks.