What Does A Firewall Protect Against? (5 Key Things It Protects Against)

Dealing with a public data breach or another type of hack is one of the most difficult problems a company can face.

According to IBM, it takes more than three-quarters of a year to detect and contain a data breach. Oh no! Businesses spend a significant amount of money and resources dealing with cyber security issues.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to stop cyber-attacks at the door and never let them in the first place? Fortunately, many tools can assist with this, perhaps none more commonly used than a firewall.

Wondering what does a Firewall protect against? We list 5 important things to know.

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5 Key Things a Firewall Protects Against

1. A firewall protects your computer against hackers

Computer hackers are sneaky. They know all the tricks to get into your computer. And even though you may have antivirus software on your computer, it can’t always keep hackers out.

A firewall is a barrier between you and the internet, and it can stop hackers from getting in. It can also keep you from getting out. So if you’re not familiar with the internet, you might want to have someone help you set up a firewall.

Your computer is a treasure trove of personal information.

It’s a home for your photos, your work, your personal email, your credit card numbers, your bank account information.

It’s not hard to see why it’s such a tempting target for hackers.

That’s why, if you want to keep your computer and the information on it safe, you should get a firewall.

2. Protects your computer against malware

Malware is malicious software that is intended to harm or destroy computers and computer systems.

Malware is an abbreviation for “malicious software.”

Malware examples include viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware.

A Malware is a file or code can be delivered over a network, infects, explores, steals, or performs virtually any behavior desired by the attacker.

Examine the local network of the infected user. Take sensitive information.

The event of a computer virus infecting your computer is a nightmare. You are left with a system that is constantly crashing, files that you can’t access, or an inability to connect to the internet.

A firewall protects your computer from malware. A firewall is a protective barrier between your computer and other networks.

Some firewalls are installed in network hardware such as hubs, switches, and routers, and they protect all the computers connected to that network.

Others are installed on a single computer and protect only the computer on which they are installed.

3. Protect your computer from being infected with viruses

Use a firewall – Windows Firewall, or any other firewall app, can alert you to suspicious activity if a virus or worm attempts to connect to your computer.

It can also prevent viruses, worms, and attackers from sending potentially harmful applications to your computer.

A firewall allows good packets to enter your system while preventing bad packets from entering. In a nutshell, an antivirus detects and removes malware or viruses from your system, whereas a firewall protects your system from the imposition and snooping eyes of hackers.

4. Protects against denial of service attacks

When properly configured, a good quality network security firewall can help prevent attacks.

Firewalls control perimeter access by monitoring and tracking allowed network traffic flows.

It allows good packets to pass through unhindered while preventing bad packets from gaining access to your network.

However, for DoS/DDoS attacks, a network firewall may not be sufficient.

The issue here is that if the firewall settings are incorrect, legitimate traffic to network servers may be blocked.

5. Protect your computer from spyware

A firewall is the most effective tool for preventing spyware from gaining access to your computer.

The firewall filters out anything you don’t want to have access to your computer.

You can use your firewall settings to figure out exactly what that is.

How to Defend Yourself Against Spyware?

1. Be cautious when agreeing to cookies.
2. Install a browser extension that prevents tracking.
3. Keep all software up to date with the most recent security patches.
4. Keep in mind that “free” software always has a cost.

What does a firewall do?

A firewall serves as a sort of gatekeeper. It detects and prevents unauthorized access to your operating system and blocks unwanted traffic or unidentified sources.

A firewall is a type of filter that sits between your computer and another network, such as the internet. Consider a firewall to be a traffic controller.

It protects your network and information by managing network traffic, blocking unsolicited incoming network traffic, and validating access by scanning network traffic for malicious elements such as hackers and malware.

A firewall is usually pre-installed with your operating system and security software. It’s a good idea to have those features enabled.

Also, ensure that your security settings are set to automatically run updates.

How does a firewall work?

To begin, a system analyzes network traffic according to firewall rules. A firewall only accepts incoming connections that have been configured to accept them. 

It accomplishes this by allowing or blocking specific data packets – units of communication sent over digital networks – based on pre-defined security rules.

A firewall functions as a traffic cop at your computer‘s entry point, or port. Only trusted sources (or IP addresses) are permitted. 

IP addresses are significant because they identify a computer or source in the same way that your postal address identifies where you live.

Types of firewalls

Firewalls can be software or hardware. Each format serves a distinct but vital purpose. A hardware firewall is a physical device, similar to a broadband router, that is installed between your network and gateway.

A software firewall is an internal program that works through port numbers and applications on your computer.

There are also cloud-based firewalls, referred to as Firewall as a Service (FaaS). One advantage of cloud-based firewalls is that they can scale with your organization and, like hardware firewalls, perform well in perimeter security.

Firewalls are classified into several types based on their structure and functionality. The following are the various firewalls you can use, depending on the size of your network and the level of security you require.

How to use firewall protection?

Proper firewall configuration and maintenance are critical for keeping your network and devices secure.

Here are some pointers to help you improve your firewall security practices:

1. Always keep your firewalls up to date as soon as possible:

Firmware updates keep your firewall protected from newly discovered vulnerabilities. Personal firewall users can usually update immediately without risk. Larger organizations may need to check network configuration and compatibility first. However, everyone should have procedures in place to ensure that updates are made as soon as possible.

2. Use antivirus software:

Firewalls are not designed to prevent viruses and other infections. These may bypass firewall protections, necessitating the use of a security solution designed to disable and remove them. Kaspersky Total Security can protect you across all of your personal devices, and our numerous business security solutions can protect any network hosts you want to keep clean.

3. A whitelist can be used to limit the number of accessible ports and hosts:

Inbound traffic should be denied by default. Inbound and outbound connections should be limited to a strict whitelist of trusted IP addresses. Limit user access privileges to only those that are absolutely necessary. It is easier to maintain security by allowing access when needed rather than rescinding and re-granting access.

4. Segmented network:

Malicious actors’ lateral movement is a clear risk that can be mitigated by limiting internal cross-communication.

5. To avoid downtime, maintain active network redundancy:

Backups of data packet for network hosts and other critical systems can help to prevent data loss and productivity loss during an incident.

Final Thoughts on What a Firewall Does?

Firewalls are only one of several important layers in an organization’s effective security defenses, but they are an essential component that should never be overlooked.

While firewalls are included with many operating systems and antivirus solutions, they frequently fail to meet the needs of businesses.

As a result, businesses must weigh their options and consider more comprehensive firewall solutions that provide greater protection.

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