For most users, Internet security is associated with an antivirus program. The main ways malware is distributed on the Internet are infected websites and malicious email messages. In both of these cases, the presence of antivirus is good protection, but not always effective. Attackers improve the transmission of viruses and develop new malware daily.
In this article, we will talk about one of the added measures you can take for your safety on the Internet. In addition to the personal firewall and antivirus, many overlook the use of a hardware firewall.
If you have any questions or if you need additional information, write to us in the “Q & A section” and we will be happy to assist you.
A common problem that most people face is that they are vulnerable to the invasion of privacy every time they access the Internet. Each time you surf the Internet, your external IP address leaves digital footprints. Each website that we visit, including social networks, saves a history of user visits, which at least stores the IP address from which the visit was made, time of visit and browser version. This information is stored in the server log, and in some cases can be used for manipulation.
To ensure the best possible protection for your data, we recommend using a good hardware firewall. It is the first line of defense, as it controls every packet that reaches your network, checking its source, recipient address, and header. Only when a packet is scanned is it allowed to go through the hardware firewall and forward it to the destination computer.
Depending on the current firewall setting, it filters traffic accordingly. The hardware firewall has built-in intrusion prevention systems (IPS/IPDS), which were previously used as a separate device, but now provide better protection.
Many inexpensive hardware firewalls will be useful for the home user. However, many of the low-cost routers are not without drawbacks. In most cases, the quality of the assembly materials affects the longevity of their work.
They do not have IPV6 compatibility, and they are prone to overheating and have little effect on filtering network traffic. We recommend using brands such as D-link, Trendnet, Netgear, and Linksys.
If you use a combination of modem/router, then there is a potential danger. In this case, your Internet Service Provider has access to part of the router of the combo unit, which means attackers, knowing these methods, can also gain access to the router.
In this case, there is a chance of snooping on your private internal network. If you are using a combo device from your provider, we recommend that you change to a standalone router and enable the device in Bridge Mode.
In this case, the Internet provider or any other outside user will see only information that the Firewall is connected. You decide which ports you decide to leave open and which ones you close, thus preventing unauthorized inbound access to your network.
