Firewall

In computer networks, firewalls block or allow network traffic, based on a set of predefined or dynamic rules and policies. They protect networks and computers against intrusion from potentially dangerous black-hats as well as from attacks that might enable them to take over the devices and misuse them for malicious purposes.

Firewall

In computer networks, firewalls block or allow network traffic, based on a set of predefined or dynamic rules and policies. They protect networks and computers against intrusion from potentially dangerous black-hats as well as from attacks that might enable them to take over the devices and misuse them for malicious purposes.

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3 min read

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3 min read

What is firewall?

The term “firewall” originally referred to a structure that is supposed to confine fire within a closed space, thus hampering its spread and mitigating its harmful effects on humans and property.

By analogy, in network security a firewall is a software- or hardware-based system that works as a gatekeeper between trusted and untrusted networks or its parts. It achieves this by filtering out harmful or potentially unwanted content and communication.

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  • Network firewalls usually fulfil this function for internal systems comprising several devices or sub-networks. This type of firewall runs on network hardware and can be easily scaled to fit businesses of any size.
  • Host-based firewalls run directly on the user machines (or endpoints) and therefore can offer far more personalized filtering rules.

Most operating systems provide their own built-in host-based firewall. However, these tend to feature only basic functionality and, as widespread as they are, have probably been investigated thoroughly by the potential attackers.

The first commercial firewalls designed for computer networks were developed in the late 1980s by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). The technology gained prominence and became widespread over the following decade due to rapid growth of the global internet.

Firewall image

How do firewalls work?

There are multiple types of firewalls, each using a different approach to traffic filtering. First generation firewalls worked as packet filters, comparing basic information such as original source and destination of the packet, the port being used, or the protocol against a predefined list of rules.

Second generation comprised the so-called stateful firewalls, which added another parameter to the filter setup, namely connection state. Based on this information, the technology could determine if the packet was starting the connection, was a part of an existing connection or wasn’t involved at all.

Third generation firewalls were built to filter information across all layers of the OSI model – including the application layer – allowing them to recognize and understand applications as well as some of the widely-used protocols such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Based on this information, the firewall can detect attacks trying to circumvent it via an allowed port or misuse of a protocol.

The latest firewalls still belong to the third generation, however they are often described as “next-generation” (or NGFW). They combine all the previously used approaches with deeper inspection of the filtered content, e.g. matching it against a detection database to identify potentially harmful traffic.

These modern firewalls often come with additional security systems built into them such as virtual private networks (VPN), intrusion prevention and detection systems (IPS/IDS), identity management, application control and web-filtering.

 

Third generation firewalls were built to filter information across all layers of the OSI model – including the application layer – allowing them to recognize and understand applications as well as some of the widely-used protocols such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Based on this information, the firewall can detect attacks trying to circumvent it via an allowed port or misuse of a protocol.

The latest firewalls still belong to the third generation, however they are often described as “next-generation” (or NGFW). They combine all the previously used approaches with deeper inspection of the filtered content, e.g. matching it against a detection database to identify potentially harmful traffic.

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These modern firewalls often come with additional security systems built into them such as virtual private networks (VPN), intrusion prevention and detection systems (IPS/IDS), identity management, application control and web-filtering.

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What are the benefits of using a firewall?

The biggest benefit for users is enhanced security. By using a firewall you set up a security perimeter that can help to protect your computer or network from harmful incoming traffic.

This technology can also filter harmful outgoing traffic. By doing this it lowers the chance of undetected data exfiltration by a malicious insider as well as reduces the risk that the devices behind the firewall will become a part of a botnet - a large group of internet-connected devices enslaved by the attackers for malevolent purposes.

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Firewalls are especially beneficial for companies with networks consisting of several internet-connected endpoints. If the firewall is properly set up at the edge of such network, it creates a single point of entry where some of the incoming threats can be identified and mitigated.

It also separates the company’s internal systems from the public internet, and thus creates a protected environment where data can flow more freely and more securely.

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