Enhancing Network Security With MikroTik RouterOS Firewall

Have you ever wondered how to stop unwanted ICMP requests to your WAN IP on your Mikrotik router? Well, my dear tech-savvy friends, you have come to the right place!

Now, before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let's make sure we are all on the same page. ICMP, or Internet Control Message Protocol, is a network protocol used to send error messages and operational information about network conditions. While ICMP is an important protocol for network troubleshooting, it can also be used maliciously by attackers. Therefore, it is essential to know how to block unwanted ICMP requests to your WAN IP on your Mikrotik router.

Here are the steps to block ICMP requests to your WAN IP:

1. Log in to your Mikrotik router

The first step is to log in to your Mikrotik router. This step may seem simple, but it is crucial. You will need to enter your username and password to access the router. If you are unsure about your login credentials, you should contact your network administrator.

2. Go to the Firewall menu

Once you have logged in to your Mikrotik router, you will need to navigate to the Firewall menu. This menu contains all the settings related to the firewall rules on your router.

3. Create a new firewall rule

Now that you are in the Firewall menu, you will need to create a new firewall rule to block ICMP requests to your WAN IP. Click on the "Add new" button to create a new rule.

4. Set the chain to "input"

In the new rule window, you will need to set the chain to "input". This tells the router to look for traffic coming into the router. Since we want to block inbound ICMP requests, we need to set the chain to "input".

5. Set the protocol to "icmp"

Next, you will need to set the protocol to "icmp". This tells the router to look for ICMP traffic. By setting the protocol to "icmp", we are telling the router to block all ICMP traffic coming into the router.

6. Set the action to "drop"

Now that we have set the chain and protocol, we need to set the action to "drop". This tells the router to drop any traffic that matches the criteria we have set. By setting the action to "drop", we are telling the router to block all inbound ICMP traffic.

7. Save the firewall rule

Finally, we need to save the firewall rule. Once you have entered all the necessary information, click on the "Apply" button to save the rule.

Conclusion

Blocking ICMP requests to your WAN IP on your Mikrotik router is an important step in securing your network. By following the simple steps outlined above, you can prevent unwanted ICMP traffic from entering your network. However, it is important to note that blocking all ICMP traffic can have unintended consequences and may cause issues with network troubleshooting. Therefore, it is recommended to block only the necessary ICMP traffic and allow other ICMP traffic to pass through the router.

With these steps, you are now more equipped to handle the ever-increasing threats that lurk in the digital world. Keep your network secure and happy browsing!

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