What is a Firewall?
Firewall? Huh?
You hear of cracking the Firewall in plenty of spy movies, but what is a Firewall? There is more than one type but the classic term for Firewall is a device that sits on a Network and prevents access into the Network (Or out).
The above term really is old school as technology improved, Firewalls got mooshed into the Router. This is the device that provides internet access. Your hear terms like Network Appliance and UTM. These are all devices that provide Internet Access while doing many other things at the same time.
But what is a Firewall these days? Turns out the Firewall didn't really go away...
Where are Firewalls these days
The functions of a Firewall live in your Router. Consider this the boundary of your Network, whether this be at home or in an Office. This boundary has protection the Firewall aids in that.
But it's no the only place. More importantly these days Firewalls live on the computers themselves. It's not good enough to have a Firewall in your Office or Home, what about in Starbucks? There's nothing to say Starbucks has a Firewall (They do), but how good is it and is it enough?
Your Computer and it's Firewall
Modern computers have Firewalls. These are there to help prevent something attacking the computer. Apple and Microsoft operating systems have Firewalls installed. You should make sure to have them running.
On Windows it's the Firewall is enabled by default, you don't need to worry about it. It just works away and gets in the way sometimes (Rarely though)
On Apple it's not enabled. It's recommended you should enable it. To do so go to; Apple Menu --> System Settings --> Network and select the Firewall option and select the slider and move it into the on position.
But what is a Firewall?
You know where they live you know how to switch it on and you vaguely know it helps prevent unwanted access to your computer but what is it really?
Packets; That's the termed used for information sent over the network, it comes over in packets. Just like the flow of water, packets flow as well. These flow of information can be checked and that is what a Firewall does, it can "Deep Packet Inspect" the information and determine what it might be. Based on that it can allow the packets through or discard them. It's up to the Firewall.
Not all Firewalls are created equal, some are better than others, it pays to not only have the Firewall on but also other means of protection like Virus Protection.
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