What is Firewall why do you need one in 2023?

Your PC should be protected by a Firewall in order to ensure it is 100% safe from hackers and uninvited users. This guide will introduce you to what a Firewall does, why it is needed, and walk you through choosing the right one for your PC.

In this article, I will cover

1. What are firewalls and their benefits
2. What does a Firewall do
3. How does a Firewall do?
4. Types of Firewall
5. Evolution of Firewall
6. Why do you need firewalls
7. FAQs
8. Conclusion

What are firewalls and their benefits?

A firewall is a way to protect the things you have on your computer. It keeps the bad guys out and it keeps your information in. A firewall can be installed right on your computer or on a network router that you share with other computers. It runs in the background and checks every time data tries to go from one place to another. It only lets good stuff through and blocks bad stuff.

It works as a safety tool for you as a security measure for your computer. It stops Internet activity from being seen by others and also protects your information from tampering by hackers.

Benefits of using a Firewall

You wouldn’t let your family and friends walk in the front door of your home without locking it behind them. So why would you allow hackers to enter through an unprotected computer network? A firewall is a barrier between a network, such as your home or office network, and another network such as the Internet

And that is the beauty of having a Firewall in your system😎

1. Protects you from hacking
2. Protects from data lost
3. Helps in protection from viruses, malware, etc.
4. Helps you in connecting virtual effectively

What does a Firewall do?

A firewall is something that is needed to protect your computer from harm. It prevents other computers from “seeing” your computer and prevents your computer from talking directly to another computer on the internet.

Firewalls were created to keep people from accessing your computer from the internet. When connected to the internet, someone on the other side of the world might be messing with files on your computer, spying on you, or stealing your passwords. A firewall protects you from these types of attacks by keeping your data in one place and out of reach.

In short, It works as your parents care for their children😍

How does a Firewall do?

Just like in the movies, a Firewall keeps the bad stuff out. Not just hackers and the internet whatever, but also things like malicious scripts and bad cookies. Computer networks are constantly being probed and attacked, so the vast majority of networks on the planet need some manner of barrier to keep all that bad stuff at bay.

It is a security application that keeps unauthorized people from accessing your computer remotely. The firewall also prevents potential threats launched through email, instant messenger, and websites.

So it basically a good tool to have if you love your security.

Types of Firewall

You should think about firewall protection for your business network if you run lots of different services and if you’re also connected to the internet. It’s well worth configuring at least a basic firewall to protect such systems from untrusted traffic on the internet.

However, Let’s know about the types of firewall which you can consider

1.) Packet-filtering Firewalls

Packet-filtering firewalls decide whether to block or allow the packets to enter and leave your system. Deciding which packets to accept lets you effectively control what gets into and out of your system.

Packet-filtering firewalls work by analyzing each packet of information sent to or from the network and only allowing certain packets to continue. It works really well in controlling uncontrollable things.

2.) Proxy service Firewalls

The proxy service firewall is designed to extend protection to applications beyond simple web surfing. By providing security controls at the point of application, many enterprises can benefit from greater certainty of compliance while leveraging existing investments in security hardware.

Service providers also benefit from a more robust solution that goes beyond traditional appliance-based application-level proxy firewalls to provide in-depth endpoint monitoring, as well as network classification capabilities.

3.) Unified Threat management

The newest firewalls are unified threat management (UTM) firewalls, which work to block viruses as well as offer protection from network-borne attacks and breaches. The specific role of the UTM firewall is to differentiate between types of traffic and apply protocol filtering based on a set of predefined rules.

The only real way to protect yourself is to build a solid defense using a layered approach to security. As part of that layered strategy, you need a UTM firewall.😉

4.) Next-Generation Firewalls

A next-generation firewall is a security solution for the way business works and the way people work—multiple apps, multiple devices, multi-layered security, and unified threat management.

The next-generation firewall is easy for everyone to use. Just plug it in and it automatically creates a secure connection between your device and the Internet, allowing access only to select programs, so that you can browse without worrying about viruses, hackers, or personal information being exposed.

Evolution of Firewall

Firewall protection is one of the most important aspects of IT. Evolved from simple technology to an utmost sophisticated tool, it became the “key” factor determining security. In this, I intend to touch on the evolutions of firewalls.

First-generation: pack filters:

It was started in 1988, engineers from Digital Equipment Corporation developed and founded the first generation of firewalls known as packet filter firewalls

Second generation: Stateful filters

It was developed from 1989-to 1990. Dave Presetto, Kshitij Nigam, and Janardan Sharma, 3 colleagues from the same company invented the second generation of firewalls. This is the updated version of the First generation.

Third generation: Application layer

Currently, the Middlebox Communication Working Group of the Internet Engineering Task Force is doing work for firewalls of this generation. It is user-friendly, allowing even the non-technical user to set simple rules and bypass their firewalls.

Do you need a Firewall at home?

We all need firewalls at home to protect against things. Your home’s firewall is an important line of defense against things going into your home, like wires, rats, and other insects to moths, and beetles. Studies show that over one-third of the homes in the USA had a problem with critters for some time last year and it was not until early this year that they became known about it. Firewalls can be used against moths and beetles as well.

A home firewall can be used with other network security to protect against viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and other malware.

Why do you need firewalls?

What keeps a high-speed race car going fast? Air resistance slows it down. It’s the same with your computer. Viruses, spyware, and other security threats can bog down your PC and leave you vulnerable to identity theft or worse. A firewall is a barrier that prevents unwanted visitors from gaining access to your network.

It’s the first layer of defense for your computer just like seat belts are for drivers and passengers in a car.

Although there are so many reasons why you keep yourself safe like😎

1. Don’t click on suspicious links
2. Don’t share personal information on any websites
3. Don’t go to unsecured websites
4. Don’t give financial information to anyone
5. Must have strong passwords

Now the question arises, Is it enough to make you safe on the Internet. The answer is No. You always required a Firewall in your system. It acts as a protection from online threats, viruses, scams, etc. so it becomes really important if you wanted to tackle hackers or online scams.

If you still not convinced about taking firewalls seriously then I am going to discuss that what are the risks of not having a firewall.

1. Open access

If you don’t use a firewall in your system then you are allowing even input in the form of viruses, malware, etc in your device which can easily harm your device and that can lead to a huge problem.

2. Network crash

Working on an important project and suddenly you feel that your network crashes. Just feel that isn’t dangerous? Of course, it is. without having firewall cybercriminals can do anything and to recover it not only involves time but also includes your hard-earned money.

3. Data lost

Without Having Firewall it gives an invitation to hackers to attack your data. If you love your data then you should take it seriously otherwise you will be the next person which will hit the list of hackers.

FAQs

Conclusion

The key here is to remember that firewalls are an essential first step in any internet-sharing environment; if you’re not using one, you’re leaving yourself open to a wide range of potential problems. But that doesn’t mean you need to set up a huge, complex system right off the bat.

A basic router and software firewall will do the trick, and they’ll give you time to learn more about your specific needs,

I hope you liked that article and if you have some suggestions or queries related to this then please write them down in the comment section

Happy reading!😊