What Is A Firewall? Apr 2026

: Every piece of data sent over the internet is broken into small "packets." The firewall examines each packet's header (source, destination, and port) and drops any that don't meet its rules.

A is a security system that acts as a digital barrier between a trusted internal network (like your home or office Wi-Fi) and untrusted external networks (like the internet). Its primary job is to monitor, filter, and control incoming and outgoing traffic based on a predetermined set of security rules. Core Functions

Firewalls come in different formats depending on what they protect: What is a Firewall? | Anomali