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Firewalls

firewall is a network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules

A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network, such as the Internet.

Firewalls can be hardware, software, or cloud-based, and they can use different techniques to filter or block traffic, such as stateful inspection, proxy, unified threat management (UTM), next-generation firewall (NGFW), or threat-focused NGFW

Here are some popular firewalls

FortiGate: A NGFW by Fortinet that offers high-end firewall protection, anti-virus, anti-ransomware, application control, intrusion prevention, web filtering, VPN, and more. It supports different deployment use cases and scales from small businesses to large enterprises

Cisco ASA: A NGFW by Cisco that integrates with Cisco’s Firepower Next-Generation IPS and Advanced Malware Protection to provide threat defense before, during, and after an attack. It also offers VPN, clustering, high availability, and virtualization features

Check Point Quantum: A NGFW by Check Point Software Technologies that delivers comprehensive security for networks of all sizes. It features advanced threat prevention, sandboxing, zero-day protection, URL filtering, identity awareness, and more. It also supports cloud-native and hybrid deployments

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series:A NGFW by Palo Alto Networks that provides visibility and control over applications, users, and content. It also offers threat prevention, URL filtering, decryption, VPN, SD-WAN, and more. It supports various network environments and scales from branch offices to data centers

Meraki MX Firewalls: A UTM firewall by Cisco Meraki that simplifies network security management with cloud-based centralized administration. It also offers intrusion prevention, malware protection, content filtering, VPN, SD-WAN, and more. It is designed for distributed networks and small to medium-sized businesses

Here are some consumer grade firewalls

pfSense SG-2100: A firewall device that runs on the open source pfSense software. It offers features such as VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, load balancing, and more. It supports different network interfaces and can handle up to 3.4 Gbps of firewall throughput

WatchGuard Firebox Model T15: A firewall device that provides enterprise-grade security for small businesses and home offices. It features threat detection and response, antivirus, anti-spam, web filtering, VPN, and more. It can handle up to 400 Mbps of firewall throughput and 150 Mbps of VPN throughput

Bitdefender BOX: A firewall device that protects all your connected devices from cyberattacks, malware, ransomware, phishing, and more. It also offers parental control, device management, VPN, and more. It can handle up to 1 Gbps of firewall throughput and works with any router

Mikrotik hEX RB750Gr3: A firewall device that is powered by a dual-core processor and has five Gigabit Ethernet ports. It offers features such as routing, firewalling, bandwidth management, VPN, hotspot, and more. It can handle up to 2 Gbps of firewall throughput

Zyxel Next Generation VPN Firewall: A firewall device that offers high-performance security for home networks and small businesses. It features VPN, intrusion prevention, anti-malware, content filtering, bandwidth management, and more. It can handle up to 300 Mbps of firewall throughput and 100 Mbps of VPN throughput

CUJO AI Smart Internet Security Firewall: A firewall device that uses artificial intelligence to protect your home network from hackers, malware, phishing, identity theft, and more. It also offers parental control, device management, privacy protection, and more. It works with any router and can handle up to 1 Gbps of firewall throughput

Windows Firewall: Windows Firewall is a network security application that is built into Windows operating systems. It monitors and controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic on your device based on predefined security rules. It also helps protect your device from unauthorized access and malicious programs.

Here are some open source firewalls

pfSense: A firewall and router that is based on the FreeBSD system. It can be used for both home networks and large enterprise environments. It offers features such as VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, load balancing, and more. It supports different network interfaces and can handle high-performance throughput.

OPNsense: A firewall and router that is forked from pfSense. It provides an easy-to-use web interface and a modular design. It offers features such as VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, traffic shaping, captive portal, and more. It supports various network environments and can run on low-end hardware.

IPFire: A firewall and router that is based on Linux. It can be used for home networks, small businesses, and large organizations. It offers features such as VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, proxy server, wireless access point, and more. It supports different network zones and can run on a wide range of hardware.

Smoothwall Express: A firewall and router that is based on Linux. It provides a user-friendly web interface and a modular design. It offers features such as VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, proxy server, wireless access point, and more. It supports different network zones and can run on a wide range of hardware.

Untangle NG Firewall: A firewall and router that is also based on Linux. It provides a comprehensive security solution for small to medium businesses and home networks. It offers features such as VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, application control, bandwidth management, and more. It supports cloud-based or on-premise deployment and can run on dedicated hardware or virtual machines.

Endian Firewall Community: A firewall and router that is also based on Linux. It provides a simple and effective security solution for home networks and small businesses. It offers features such as VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, antivirus, spam filtering, and more. It supports different network zones and can run on low-end hardware or virtual machines.

Third-party controllers for windows firewall

A third-party controller for Windows Firewall is a software application that extends the functionality of the built-in Windows Firewall and provides additional features or a more user-friendly interface.

There are many third-party controllers for Windows Firewall that you can use to enhance your network security and manage your firewall settings.

GlassWire: A firewall and network monitor that shows you the network activity of your applications, the hosts they connect to, and the bandwidth they consume. It also alerts you of any suspicious or malicious activity and allows you to block any unwanted connections with a simple click. It has a sleek and intuitive interface that displays graphs and statistics of your network traffic.

TinyWall: A lightweight and non-intrusive firewall that runs in the background and automatically blocks any unauthorized or harmful connections. It does not display any pop-ups or notifications, but instead lets you manage your firewall rules through hotkeys, tray icons, or context menus. It also supports whitelisting, password protection, port scanning, and more.

Comodo Firewall: A powerful and comprehensive firewall that protects your computer from online threats, such as hackers, malware, phishing, and more. It also offers features such as VPN, sandboxing, application control, cloud-based scanning, and more. It has a user-friendly interface that shows you the security status of your system and allows you to customize your firewall settings.

ZoneAlarm: A firewall and antivirus that provides complete security for your computer and network. It also offers features such as identity protection, anti-ransomware, anti-phishing, web filtering, backup, and more. It has a simple and easy-to-use interface that shows you the security level of your network and allows you to adjust your firewall settings.

Norton Smart Firewall: A firewall and security suite that protects your computer from viruses, spyware, hackers, and other online threats. It also offers features such as password manager, cloud backup, parental control, secure VPN, and more. It has a smart and adaptive interface that learns from your behavior and adjusts your firewall settings accordingly.

Malwarebytes WFC: Malwarebytes Windows Firewall Control is a software application that extends the functionality of the built-in Windows Firewall and provides additional features or a more user-friendly interface. It allows you to control the native firewall easily without having to waste time by navigating to the specific part of the firewall. It also alerts you of any suspicious or malicious activity and allows you to block any unwanted connections with a simple click