Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewall | Pros & Cons of Firewall

Introduction

In this modern world, we are performing the majority of work and tasks online using the internet, like online learning, online shopping, etc.

The tasks which used to take long hours to complete can be done now with fingertips using a computer, laptop, and smartphones with the internet.

It has been observed that the use of the internet has been dramatically increased so the threats involved in using the internet also increased like hacking, cracking, spamming, etc.

To restrict these online activities firewalls are used which act as a protective wall against illegal and unauthorized access when using a computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.

In this post, I am going to discuss on 7 Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewall as well as the benefits and drawbacks of Firewall with the pros and cons of using Firewall with examples and pictures.

In simple words firewall are used to protects and secure your personal and sensitive data | information from hackers, spammers, crackers, malwares, and viruses.

What is Firewall?

Firewalls are the protective layers of computers that are responsible to protect computers from unknown users or programs which can be viruses, malware, etc.

They also help in protecting our system from hackers and malicious programs..

Modern routers which are used in computer networking where all other computer and laptops are connected with each other for performing data transfer and data exchange.

These routers are equipped with a firewall which is enabled while configurations and helps in protecting our system from infecting other computers over the networks when virus and malware attacks.

The routers also stop unwanted programs or code from entering the computer network and help in keeping the computer security from dangerous malicious programs.

It is observed that if one computer gets infected by a virus or malicious program and routers stop that virus from spreading and contaminating other computers on the network.

Now let’s talk and discuss the other firewall that is the software firewall.

Firewalls are preinstalled in all the modern operating systems like Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, etc. 

They help in protecting our computer system from unauthorized access, viruses, malicious program, and hackers.

These malicious programs enter our system and steal our important data like Id, passwords, credit and debit card details and misuse them against us to harm us with personal and financial loss.

Also with these unwanted codes are privacy is at the stake.

It has been seen that while installing new software or games the firewall prompts us with a dialog box that indicates that it has been asking permission to install the software or game.

Also, many times some of the programs or games are blocked by this firewall to run as the firewall sees some security threats therefore it takes preemptive steps to avoid them.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewall | Drawbacks & Benefits of Firewall

In this computer era, the use of a firewall is considered to be must use because of some of its important silent features.

Therefore here we are going to discuss some of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewall with Drawbacks & Benefits of Firewall.

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Benefits & Advantages of Firewall in Points

Let us discuss some of the benefits and advantages of firewall in points.

• Traffic Monitoring
• Protection against Virus.
• Security from Hackers.
• Easy Installation.
• Protection against Malware.
• Grouping.
• Virtual Connectivity.
• Improved Security.

#1.  Traffic Monitoring.

The main advantage of using a firewall is that it can measure and monitor entire traffic passing through it.

The information or data passing through or within the network is in the form of packets.

A firewall helps itself in diagnosing and checking if there is any dangerous program or code attached to the packet.

If the firewall comes to know that the packets are infected and contaminated with malicious programs it blocks further access to the packets.

#2.  Protection against Virus.

The firewall is designed and developed in such a way that they act as a protective wall and shield between our computer system and these unwanted programs.

They have a security feature that is activated when they come in contact with such unauthorized files and programs.

The programs or software’s through which this virus wants to infect other computers in the network are blocked and eliminated by the firewall.

#3.  Security from Hackers.

The hardware routers are more capable of handling hackers and spammers because of their silent feature.

They also enhance the security of the packet filtering firewall. Therefore they provide ultimate protection from hackers.

#4.  Easy Installation.

The installation process of a software firewall is quite simple and can be done without any professional guidance.

Moreover, there are some tutorials available on the internet which helps in learning the complete process in detail.

Modern Operating systems like Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 come with pre-installed firewalls.

however, the hardware firewall is difficult to install and maintain to access them we need to take professional advice.

#5.  Protection against Malware.

Some malware can reside in the computer system unknowingly and can replicate itself multiple times.

This malware can collect all the important data and information from your system and later

misuse them in the form of personal as well as financial loss.

This malware is smart enough and can not be identified easily therefore a proper firewall must be installed to require a fair amount of security from such malware like a trojan horse.

Trojan Horses is a malicious program designed, developed, planned, and created to harm the computer system.

The codes are customized such that when it interacts with some other program or documents it changes them into the Trojan virus.

#6.  Grouping.

The features of a firewall are grouped and therefore controlled like bandwidth management or content filtering or other security feature.

They are grouped together and other policies are applied to them.

#7.  Virtual Connectivity.

The routers can be connected to other networks with the help of LAN [Local Area Network].

Therefore users can connect to the internet at any time and hence it can be said that virtual connectivity is possible.

#8.  Improved Security.

Using modern routers and firewall software the security has been increased drastically and

computer systems are not prone to get infected or hacked that easily as compared to previous years.

The firewall consists of multi-layer security which is not that simple to bypass as this software and hardware and update themselves to protect from unauthorized access and threats.

They have been very effective in neutralizing the virus, malware, and hacking attacks, and hence

the majority of the system these days focuses on firewall security due to its benefits and advantages of firewall possess.

Drawbacks & Disadvantages of Firewall

• Cost
• Performance
• Malware Attacks
• Degraded Performance
• Maintainance
• Internal Network Attacks
• Firewall Removal
• False Firewall

#1. Cost

No doubt the software firewall is cheaper and comes with the latest and updated operating systems like Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 10.2.

Some of the software firewalls also come with premium antivirus software. However, the hardware firewall is considered to be a little expensive when compared to other

firewalls but it also offers a great deal of protects from hackers and malware. For the installation of this hardware firewall, professional guidance and help is needed.

#2. Performance

It has been observed that the software firewall restricts the performance of the computer system.

They tend to use the system resources and memory resources from RAM [Random Access Memory] that does not allow the system to run with full potential.

The heavy usage of memory reflects in slow speed and lagging of system if found this is because the firewall continuously runs in the background unknowingly.

#3. Malware Attacks

The software, as well as hardware-based firewall, are vulnerable despite its continuous development.

The firewall is updated periodically to enhance the database of the virus definition still in the majority of the cases it has been observed that they let some of the malware undetected.

Therefore heavy rely on the software or hardware-based firewall is not advised.

#4. Maintainance

The software or hardware-based firewall is a very difficult task to maintain as we have to

periodically check the new policies and apply them to the system whereas the old policies and to be taken into consideration.

#5 Internal Network Attacks

They are very difficult and tedious to identify as the culprit has internal access to the system.

Therefore the firewalls are not capable of detecting such sources which have the authorized credentials to access the system

The firewalls are designed and developed to stop attacks from outside the network and other sources and hence they are incapable of handling such incidents which occur inside the networks.

#6. Firewall Removal

While software-based firewalls are installed some of the important files incorporate with the

operating systems kernel and dll files and hence when we try to remove these firewalls they refuse to remove them completely from the system.

#7. False Firewall

There is some software-based firewall in the market that promises a great deal but when used Fails to fulfill their commitments.

Moreover, they do not protect or secure our system from viruses, malware, and hackers.

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Types of Firewall

Firewalls are categorized into different types which I have mentioned below.

• Packet Filter Firewall
• Stateless Packet Filter
• Stateful Packet Filter
• Application Level Gateway Firewall
• Circuit-Level Gateway firewall

Get In Touch

With time to time development in firewalls is making them potent against viruses, malware, and hackers as the online activities are increasing day by day the need and use of these highly advanced firewalls will be a must.

The points which I have made here will be more frequently updated as soon as I come across more news and updates.

I have also written and compiled some articles on computers and telecommunications please go through them. I hope you will like reading it.

I hope that all the questions and queries related to the 7 Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewall have been answered here with the pros and cons of using a Firewall.

If you have any questions related to the Drawbacks and benefits of firewalls.

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