Firewalls

A firewall is a filtering device placed between a private network and the Internet to protect the private network from intrusion. This entry describes different kinds of firewalls and how they work, and looks at the benefits and limitations of firewalls. Preventing unauthorized access and protecting the confidentiality of information have [Page 380]become major concerns of network administrators as the explosion of Internet usage and electronic commerce has exposed individuals and organizations to various attacks. Companies have suffered from breach of information and loss of customer confidence.

Firewall technology is used to avoid being vulnerable to cyber intrusion. Firewalls are used to prevent unauthorized events by controlling all incoming and outgoing traffic. They are necessary for any kind of computer usage that involves the Internet and ...