Network Protection With MikroTik Router Firewall Rules Deep Dive

Firewall is an essential aspect of every network. It is a network security system that monitors and controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. MikroTik is one of the leading manufacturers of network equipment and provides some of the most advanced firewall solutions. In this tutorial, we will go through the basics of MikroTik Firewall and understand its functions. First and foremost, let's start by understanding what MikroTik Firewall is. MikroTik Firewall is a software package that provides firewall functionality for MikroTik RouterOS-based devices. It is used to filter traffic based on various criteria, including protocol, source/destination address, port number, and so on. The firewall is an integral part of the MikroTik RouterOS and can be configured from the command-line interface (CLI) or the web-interface. MikroTik Firewall provides several functions, including packet filtering, NAT (network address translation), and connection tracking. These functions make it possible to implement various security policies, such as limiting access to specific ports, allowing or blocking specific traffic, and so on. Let's explore these functions in more detail. Packet Filtering: Packet filtering is the most basic function of MikroTik Firewall. It examines the header of each packet and decides whether to accept or reject it based on the configured rules. Packet filtering is essential to prevent unauthorized access to the network and to protect it from malicious traffic. The firewall can filter packets based on various criteria, including protocol type, source/destination IP address, source/destination port number, and so on. NAT: NAT (Network Address Translation) is another important function of the MikroTik Firewall. It is used to translate private network addresses into public IP addresses and vice versa to enable communication between devices on different networks. NAT makes it possible for multiple devices to share a single public IP address, which is useful in conserving IP addresses and simplifying network management. The MikroTik Firewall provides several NAT options, including source NAT, destination NAT, and masquerade. Connection Tracking: Connection tracking is a crucial aspect of any firewall. It is used to monitor and log all incoming and outgoing connections to the network. Connection tracking allows the firewall to keep track of the state of each connection and apply appropriate security policies, such as blocking or allowing specific traffic. MikroTik Firewall provides comprehensive connection tracking features, including logging, timeout options, and more. Now that we have covered the basic functions of MikroTik Firewall, let's move on to some practical examples. Here are a few examples of how to use the MikroTik Firewall to secure your network. 1. Block Traffic from Specific IP Addresses: It is often necessary to block traffic from specific IP addresses for security reasons. To do this, we can use the MikroTik Firewall to block traffic from specific IP addresses. We can do this by creating a new firewall filter rule and adding the IP address or range that we want to block. For example, to block traffic from IP address 192.168.1.100, we can create a new filter rule and add the following configuration: ``` /ip firewall filter add chain=forward src-address=192.168.1.100 action=drop ``` 2. Allow Traffic from Specific IP Addresses: In some cases, we may need to allow traffic from specific IP addresses. To do this, we can create a new filter rule and add the IP address or range that we want to allow. For example, to allow traffic from IP address 192.168.1.100, we can create a new filter rule and add the following configuration: ``` /ip firewall filter add chain=forward src-address=192.168.1.100 action=accept ``` 3. Block Traffic to Specific Ports: Blocking traffic to specific ports is another essential security measure. For example, we may want to block traffic to port 22, which is used for SSH connections. To do this, we can create a new filter rule and add the port number that we want to block. For example, to block traffic to port 22, we can add the following configuration: ``` /ip firewall filter add chain=forward protocol=tcp dst-port=22 action=drop ``` 4. Allow Traffic to Specific Ports: On the other hand, we may want to allow traffic to specific ports. We can do this by creating a new filter rule and adding the port number that we want to allow. For example, to allow traffic to port 80, we can add the following configuration: ``` /ip firewall filter add chain=forward protocol=tcp dst-port=80 action=accept ``` 5. Block Traffic from Specific Countries: It is also possible to block traffic from specific countries using the MikroTik Firewall. To do this, we first need to enable the GeoIP feature and download the necessary GeoIP database. Once we have done this, we can create a new filter rule and add the name of the country or countries that we want to block. For example, to block traffic from Russia, we can add the following configuration: ``` /ip firewall filter add chain=forward src-address-type=foreign src-address-list=Russia action=drop ``` 6. Limit Connection Attempts: One common attack on networks is a brute force attack, where an attacker tries to guess the password by making multiple login attempts. We can use the MikroTik Firewall to limit the number of connection attempts to prevent such attacks. For example, we can create a new filter rule and set a limit on the number of connection attempts from a specific IP address. If the limit is exceeded, we can block further connection attempts from that IP address. Here's an example configuration: ``` /ip firewall filter add chain=input protocol=tcp dst-port=22 src-address-list=ssh_blacklist \ connection-state=new action=drop ``` In conclusion, MikroTik Firewall is an excellent security solution for networks of all sizes. It provides several functional features that make it possible to implement comprehensive security policies. In this tutorial, we have explored the basics of MikroTik Firewall, its functions, and some practical examples of how to use it to secure your network. By implementing the security policies mentioned in this tutorial, you can make your network more secure and less vulnerable to attacks. Protect Mikrotik Router from Hacker - YouTube