A firewall is a security system that protects your website by monitoring and filtering traffic. It acts like a digital security guard—blocking harmful visitors, bots, and attacks before they reach your website.
Without a firewall, your website is more vulnerable to hacking, malware, and automated attacks.
How a Firewall Works
When someone tries to access your website, the firewall checks:
- Where the request is coming from
- Whether the visitor looks legitimate
- If the request matches known attack patterns
- Whether the visitor is a bot or human
If something looks suspicious, the firewall blocks it before it reaches your site.
Types of Firewalls for Websites
1. Network Firewalls
These protect entire servers or hosting environments. They block harmful traffic before it reaches your website.
2. Application Firewalls (WAF)
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects your website specifically. It filters traffic at the application level and blocks attacks like SQL injection, cross‑site scripting, and brute‑force attempts.
3. Plugin‑Based Firewalls
Some CMS platforms offer firewall plugins that add an extra layer of protection.
What Firewalls Protect Against
- Hacking attempts
- Malware injections
- Spam bots
- Brute‑force login attacks
- Suspicious IP addresses
- Known vulnerabilities
Why Small Business Websites Need a Firewall
Even small websites are targeted by automated attacks. A firewall helps:
- Prevent downtime
- Protect customer data
- Reduce spam and bot traffic
- Improve website security
- Block common vulnerabilities
Related Digital Literacy Topics
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