All You Need to Know About Firewalls

The basic functionality of a firewall is to prevent abuse of the Internet and preventing private networks from being accessed. All messages which leave or enter an Intranet in workplaces pass through a firewall. Messages that do not meet the specified security criteria are blocked. Because of the immense security that firewalls offer in these days of data theft and espionage, most workplaces have firewalls in place.

Types of Firewalls

There are different types of firewalls designed for specific purposes. The three basic types of firewalls are: Software firewalls, Hardware Routers and Wireless Routers. These different types of firewalls in turn use different techniques. The different firewall techniques are: Packet Filter, Application Gateway, Circuit-level Gateway, and Proxy Servers.

Packet filters inspect each packet entering or leaving the network. They accept or reject the packet depend on the pre-defined rules. While this type of filter is difficult to configure, it is effective and transparent to users.

Application gateways apply security mechanisms to specific applications and despite being effective can result in performance degradation. Circuit-level gateways apply security mechanisms when a connection is established. A proxy server intercepts all messages and effectively hides network addresses.

Most types of firewalls use two or more techniques to ensure absolute and all-round security.

The Need for a Firewall

Companies rely a great deal on data for their very existence. Millions of dollars ride on the data that they create, store and share. If any of this valuable data is stolen, hacked or attacked by viruses, then a company’s existence is jeopardised. If a computer is not protected by a firewall when a user connects on to the Internet, hackers can gain access to personal information on the computer.

Without a firewall, hackers can install a code on a user’s computer, which destroys files and cause malfunctions. Hackers can spread their network to other computers if they manage to get into one system. Further, firewalls prevent the misuse of the Internet by employees in a work environment. Firewalls screen out malicious and obscene information before it reaches a user’s computer.

Industrial espionage is a very real threat in today’s world. Companies cannot afford to be lax about their security. A firewall can prevent data from being stolen or inadvertently passed on. Companies use the different techniques to create a comprehensive firewall system, which provides the maximum possible security.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Different Firewalls

Software firewalls are typically used for single computers and are compatible with different operating systems. Software firewalls are available by different software companies. Software firewalls do not require additional software or additional computer wiring. It is the best choice for a single computer.

The disadvantage of software firewalls is that most software firewalls are expensive. It may require installation and configuration by an expert. Each computer will require a separate copy of the software firewall and cannot be shared.

Hardware Routers are ideal for home computers that connect to the Internet. Home networks usually have a wider range of site access and, therefore, need firewalls that keep this in focus. The major advantage of a hardware router is that usually it has at least four network ports to connect multiple computers together. Therefore, hardware routers can offer fire wall protection to multiple computers.

The main disadvantage of hardware routers is that they require wiring which can appear messy. Wireless routers are the perfect foil for users of a wireless network. The most significant advantage of a wireless router is that it can be connected to computers, portable computers, PDAs and printers, without wiring. Laptops are able to utilize the advantage of wireless routers to its full potential.

Conclusion

To be aware of security threats over the Internet and not use precautions that are easily available is being foolhardy. By spending a small amount of money and installing a firewall, a user can use the Internet without fear of potential problems. In fact, installing a firewall should be the first step towards enjoying safe online surfing. In a work context, there are very few corporations who do not fully appreciate the advantage of a firewall.

Users do not need to completely understand the functioning of a firewall. All they have to do is explain their computer use and have a professional decide the best firewall to install. On a larger level, corporations invest a great deal in installing the latest and best firewall to ensure optimum security. A firewall can be viewed as a guardian angel in a virtual world, where anything is possible.