What Does a Firewall Not Do?
Having a firewall does not necessarily protect you from all threats. There are several risks that can still impact your network. Malware is one of the most prevalent. Malware includes ransomware, viruses, worms, spyware, adware, pharming, phishing, and Trojan horses, each of which can be used to infect and control aspects of your computer.
A firewall cannot always protect you from these threats because they often infiltrate your system through an email. Clicking a link inside the email causes the malicious software to be installed on your computer, thereby infecting it and possibly spreading to the rest of your network. Worms, Trojans, and viruses can all spread inside your network, infecting various computers.
Trojans may come in the form of an application that appears to be harmless, but when you click on it, your system gets infected. A worm replicates on its own, spreading to other areas of your system, potentially inflicting significant damage. Similarly, a virus targets specific areas of your computer, resulting in crashes, insufficient memory, deleted files and programs, and more. If you have a firewall positioned before your wide-area network (WAN)but a computer that has accessed your WAN has one of these threats, you can be exposed.
Firewalls also cannot prevent unauthorized access to your computer. If your computer has a password, it is important to make sure you keep it private. A better defense is to use a hardware authentication device like a token. A user would need to have the token to get into your computer. If a malicious user gains access, they can abuse your device in any way they see fit.
If a firewall is placed between where your computer connects to the network and the rest of the network, the attacker may not be able to use your computer to infect others on the network. In this way, a firewall can be used to segment the network. However, keep in mind that all devices within your segment can be attacked if an unauthorized user gains access.
A firewall also does not protect devices from physical theft or data leakage. For example, a hacker may be able to connect a universal serial bus (USB) device to your computer to track your keystrokes as you log in. A firewall cannot protect you from this kind of intrusion. Also, if your computer is stolen, a firewall will not be able to block a user from gaining access. You will have to rely on login credentials or multi-factor authentication (MFA).
FAQs
A firewall is either a hardware device or a software application that helps protect your network from attackers. The firewall shields your network by acting as a 24/7 filter, scanning the data that attempts to enter your network and preventing anything that looks suspicious from getting through.
What is the purpose of a firewall? ›
A firewall is a security system designed to prevent unauthorized access into or out of a computer network. Firewalls are often used to make sure internet users without access are not able to interface with private networks, or intranets, connected to the internet.
What 3 things does a firewall do? ›
Firewalls protect against unauthorized access, malicious software, and cyberattacks. They prevent harmful entities like hackers, viruses, and worms from infiltrating or exfiltrating sensitive data. These are a few examples of things firewalls defend computers or networks from.
What are the three functions of a firewall? ›
A firewall performs the following three functions:
- Filtering network traffic.
- Blocking unauthorized access.
- Permitting legitimate communication.
A firewall is a security device that can help protect your internet network by filtering unknown traffic and blocking outsiders from gaining access to your private data.
Is it really necessary to have a firewall? ›
Firewalls provide protection against outside cyber attackers by shielding your computer or network from malicious or unnecessary network traffic. Firewalls can also prevent malicious software from accessing a computer or network via the internet.
What are the 3 main advantages of using firewalls? ›
Top 5 Firewall Benefits
- Monitors network traffic. All of the benefits of firewall security start with the ability to monitor network traffic. ...
- Stops virus attacks. Nothing can shut your digital operations down faster and harder than a virus attack. ...
- Prevents hacking. ...
- Stops spyware. ...
- Promotes privacy.
A firewall acts as a protective barrier between your computer and the Internet, monitoring all incoming and/or outgoing traffic and allowing only the network traffic you permit.
How much does a firewall cost? ›
Firewall Security Price. Hardware for a firewall for a small business can run anywhere from $700-$1,000. Businesses that have anywhere from 15 to 100 users can expect to pay between $1,500 and $4,000 for firewall hardware.
What is an example of a firewall? ›
An example of a firewall is the Windows Firewall that comes bundled with Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is a software-based firewall that can help protect computers from unauthorized access and malware attacks by blocking incoming and outgoing network traffic.
A firewall acts as a barrier to block unauthorized access to and from a network or system, while antivirus software detects and removes malicious software (malware) on a device. Both are essential for comprehensive security, as they address different threats and vulnerabilities.
What a firewall Cannot do? ›
Social engineering is a kind of cyber threat that firewalls cannot prevent. Social engineering attacks include a broad range of attacks involving human interaction which overpasses firewalls.
Do firewalls stop viruses? ›
Do firewalls protect against viruses? Firewalls primarily focus on controlling network traffic, helping prevent unauthorized access and certain types of cyberattacks. While they can block malicious traffic or access to known harmful sites, they don't inherently scan for and remove viruses present on a device.
Will a firewall stop hackers? ›
A firewall is a crucial security feature that helps to protect your computer or network from external threats such as hackers and malware. However, despite its effectiveness, there are several ways in which a firewall can be breached and leave your system vulnerable to attacks.
Why is it important to set up a firewall? ›
A firewall plays a vital role in network security and needs to be properly configured to keep organizations protected from data leakage and cyberattacks. This is possible by configuring domain names and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to keep the firewall secure.
What is the purpose of a Windows Firewall? ›
The Windows Firewall is used to protect your Windows system from network-based threats. You can control who has access to your system and what access is granted. The Windows Firewall applet allows you to configure these firewall settings.
Why would a company use a firewall? ›
Firewalls prevent malicious software and unauthorized connections from accessing your network by examining the data that is being sent to your network and determining if it is legitimate based on predefined conditions.
What is the purpose of a software firewall? ›
The main functions of a software firewall include: Applying security rules to screen incoming and outgoing traffic. Blocking malicious programs and traffic that seek to gain access to network resources. Allowing authorized users to connect quickly and easily.
