And is it the same whether you’re a technical or non-technical user?
The most prominent names in the firewall market are Windows Firewall and pfsense firewall.
Although they have their similarities, they arent interchangeable.
What Is a Firewall and How Does It Work?
A firewall is a cybersecurity tool that filters data entering your rig through an external online grid.
Unlike anti-malware software, firewalls can come as software and hardware.
If your firewall is software, it acts as a digital fence that protects you from incoming cyber attacks.
A hardware firewall does more or less the same thing.
Without a firewall, harmful files can make their way from the open internet, straight to your gadget.
Related:Firewall vs. Antivirus: What’s the Difference and Do You Need Both?
What Is Windows Defender Firewall?
One way to think about Windows Firewall is that its the ready-to-use firewall system that within everyone’s reach.
Its completely free and doesnt require a complex setup or configuration process.
Functionality
For most, Windows Firewall is a tool made to protect you from incoming cyberattacks.
Once you approve of an apps activity, Windows Firewall will remember your preferences and wont bother you again.
The problem arises with apps and software that send data out.
They sit outside of your main gear and use their own physical resources.
But Windows Firewall is software that works similarly to all other apps and software.
What Is pfSense Firewall?
Basic firewall functionality is being able to scan and allow or block data packets entering or leaving your machine.
Its how good the firewall is at its job that makes it superior.
Windows Firewall stops at scanning and blocking data packets.
On the other hand, you might turn pfSense into a monitoring and detection tool.
That way, you’re able to directly intercept hackers trying to access your rig and data.
Not to mention, pfSense is compatible with another open-source security tool, theWireGuard VPN tunneling protocol.
pfSense is lightweight and wont affect your computers performance.
pfSense firewall requires a little more effort on your end than Windows Firewall.
Still, it’s user-friendly and easy-to-use with a ton of tutorials and official documentation available online.
But similarly to other security tools, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and functionality.
If youre not tech-savvy, you dont have to feel stuck with proprietary and paid firewall software.
