So how exactly does a firewall work? Firewalls simply monitor incoming and outgoing traffic on a device, scanning for any signs of malicious activity. Should it detect something suspicious, it will instantly block it from reaching its destination. It’s a big filtration system for your computer or server. When they were first developed, firewalls were very simple packet analyzers that allowed or blocked incoming traffic based on a minimal set of predefined rules. They were very easy to bypass. Nowadays they’ve evolved into complex pieces of programming that are much better at keeping out-attempted intrusions and are an essential piece of software for all devices.
Without a firewall, your website and even your personal devices are vulnerable to DDoS attacks, an attack vector that sends thousands or millions of fake packets to overload your server and brings your website or internet down. Not convinced? Here’s what a firewall can protect you or your website against: Intrusions: Firewalls prevent unauthorized users from accessing your computer or server remotely and doing whatever they want. Malware: Attackers who manage to infiltrate can send malware to infect you or your server. Malware may steal personal information, spread itself to other users, or otherwise damage your computer. Brute force attacks: Attempts by hackers to try hundreds of username and password combinations to discover your admin (or other users’) login credentials. DDoS attacks: Firewalls (especially web application firewalls) can attempt to detect the influx of fake traffic that occurs during a DDoS attack.