Question

What is a firewall? Identify and explain some of the functions of a firewall. What are its limitations?

Answer 1

FIREWALL:

A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a defined set of security rules.

Firewalls have been a first line of defense in network security for over 25 years. They establish a barrier between secured and controlled internal networks that can be trusted and untrusted outside networks, such as the Internet.

A firewall can be hardware, software, software-as-a service (SaaS), public cloud, or private cloud (virtual).

FUNCTIONS OF FIREWALL:

firewalls play an important role in preventing cyber attacks, protecting sensitive data, and maintaining the privacy and security of computer systems and networks.

A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a defined set of security rules. Firewalls have been a first line of defense in network security for over 25 years.

LIMITATIONS:

There are many limitations of firewall some of them are-

1) Firewalls are not able to stop the users from accessing the data or information from malicious websites, making them vulnerable to internal threats or attacks.

2) It does not prevent misuse of passwords and attackers with modems from dialing in to or out of the internal network.

3) Firewalls cannot prevent misuse of passwords.

4) Firewalls cannot stop users from accessing malicious websites, making it vulnerable to internal threats or attacks.

5) Firewalls cannot protect against the transfer of virus-infected files or software.

6) Firewalls cannot protect if security rules are misconfigured.

7) Firewalls cannot protect against non-technical security risks, such as social engineering.

8) Firewalls cannot stop or prevent attackers with modems from dialing in to or out of the internal network.

9) Firewalls cannot secure the system which is already infected.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

A firewall is a network security device or software that acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and an untrusted external network, such as the internet. Its primary functions include packet filtering, where it inspects and filters network traffic based on predetermined rules; stateful inspection, which keeps track of the state of active connections; and proxy services, which act as intermediaries between internal and external systems to enhance security. Firewalls also provide application layer filtering to block or allow specific services and applications. However, firewalls have limitations, as they cannot prevent all types of cyberattacks, including those exploiting known vulnerabilities, and may not protect against threats originating from within the trusted network or social engineering attacks. Therefore, they are one part of a comprehensive network security strategy.

Step-by-step explanation: