FIREWALLS

FIREWALLS

1. Firewalls can be hardware or software based.

2. Firewalls work by using a set of rules that filter and reject unwanted or suspicious network packets arriving from a remote network.

3. Hardware firewalls usually exist by sitting between an external network and an internal connection.

4. Firewalls form the first line of defence in protecting digital systems from external threats such as cyberattacks and viruses.

5. A digital system such as a desktop computer can also host its own firewall service, blocking network data travelling in and out. Additional options may stop applications from sending and/or receiving certain packets of network data. They do this by creating a set of rules that determine which packets of data are sent and received, which is called an ACCESS CONTROL LIST ( ACL ).

6. A firewall is a device that protects an IT system ( or network ) from unauthorised access by blocking 'bad' network traffic.