MikroTik Router Firewall Protecting Your Network From Cyber Threats

Firewalls are an essential component of any cybersecurity system. In today's modern age of technology, it's important to safeguard your personal and business information from cyber attacks. One of the ways to secure your data is through the use of firewalls. In this post, we'll dive deeper into how firewalls work and why they are important for your computer and business security.

What is a firewall?

A firewall is a program or hardware device that filters and blocks unauthorized access to a network or computer system. It is like a security guard that sits between your computer and the internet, monitoring and controlling the incoming and outgoing traffic. Firewalls can be installed on a single computer, on a network level, or on the boundary of a network.

Types of firewalls

There are several types of firewalls, each with its own unique characteristics and methods of operation. These include:

Packet filtering firewall: This type of firewall examines each packet (data packet) that enters or leaves the network and checks if it meets predetermined criteria, such as the IP address, port number, protocol, and source or destination. If the packet matches the criteria, it is allowed to pass through the firewall. If not, it is either discarded or rejected.
Stateful inspection firewall: This type of firewall maintains a record of the state of each connection (known as a session). It analyzes the entire packet payload (data in the packet) to ensure that it's not malicious or contains any known code or patterns of a virus or malware. If it passes the inspection, the connection is allowed. Otherwise, it's blocked.
Circuit-level firewall: This type of firewall operates at the session layer (layer 5) of the OSI model. It establishes a connection between two endpoints and inspects the traffic at the session level. It doesn't look at the packet content but examines the connection setup and teardown requests and responses to ensure that they are legitimate.
Application-level firewall: This type of firewall operates at the application layer (layer 7) of the OSI model. It examines the traffic for specific applications and protocols, such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, DNS, and so on. It uses deep packet inspection (DPI) to look at the packet content and payload and can block specific traffic based on the application, user, or content.

How do firewalls work?

The working of firewalls depends on the type of firewall and its configuration. Generally, the steps involved in the functioning of a firewall are as follows:

Identification: The firewall examines all incoming and outgoing traffic and identifies the source, destination, protocol, port, and content of each packet.
Comparison: The firewall compares the packet information with a set of rules and policies defined by the administrator or IT team. These rules may include allowing or blocking traffic based on the IP address, port number, protocol, user, application, content, and other criteria.
Action: Based on the comparison, the firewall takes action, which can be one of the following: Allow, Block, Drop, or Reject. If the packet passes the rules, it's allowed to pass through. If not, it's either dropped or discarded silently (Block) or sent back to the sender with an error message (Reject).
Logging: The firewall maintains a log of all incoming and outgoing traffic, including the packets that were allowed, blocked, dropped, or rejected. This log can be used for troubleshooting, auditing, or security analysis purposes.

Why are firewalls important?

Firewalls play a critical role in protecting your computer and network from cyber attacks, such as hacking, malware, spyware, ransomware, and phishing. Here are some of the reasons why firewalls are important:

Secure data: Firewalls prevent unauthorized access to your sensitive and confidential data, such as bank accounts, credit card information, personal files, and business secrets. By blocking incoming traffic from suspicious sources and filtering outgoing traffic to prevent data leaks, firewalls provide a layer of protection to your data.
Prevent malware: Firewalls can block malware-infected traffic or downloads from entering your system. They can also detect and block malware trying to communicate with command-and-control servers or send spam messages.
Control access: Firewalls can restrict access to specific applications, websites, or services, based on policies and rules. This can help prevent users from accessing unauthorized content or using unapproved applications.
Ensure compliance: Firewalls are often required by regulations, such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX, or GDPR, to protect sensitive data and maintain privacy and security standards. By using firewalls, organizations can comply with these regulations and avoid penalties or fines.

Conclusion

Firewalls are an essential component of any cybersecurity system. They act as a filter between your computer and the internet, controlling access to your system and data. By using firewalls, you can prevent cyber attacks, secure your data, control access, and ensure compliance with regulations. It's important to choose the right type of firewall for your needs, configure it properly, and keep it updated to ensure maximum protection. Stay safe!