FIREWALLS

Created and Presented by:

Dawn Blitch
&
Fredda Hutchinson

What is a Firewall?
A Firewall is simply a
program or hardware
device that filters the
information coming
through the internet
connection into your
private network or
computer system.

History of Firewall
First Generation-(1985) First security firewalls
appeared. Network layer IP routers with filtering
rules that had to be manually changed by the
administrator. (Must have intranet access or
valid IP address)
Second Generation-(1989-1990) Circuit level
firewall gateways that prevented direct
connections between networks through address
authorization.

History of Firewalls
Third Generation-(1991) First commercial
firewall (DEC SEAL), Used filters and
application gateways or proxies.
Fourth Generation-(1994) Check Point
Technologies, Firewall-1, developed first
user friendly firewall. Used dynamic
packet filters that dynamically changed
filtering rules.

History of Firewall
Fifth Generation-(today) Kernel Proxy
architecture, which evaluates network packets at
multiple layers of a protocol stack in the proxy
server.

Types of Firewalls
Network Layer-A hardware firewall that controls
what packets or information that are passed in or
out of your network

Types of Firewalls
Application Layer-Software that does not allow
direct connections between networks, which
performs logging and auditing of traffic.

How Firewalls Work

Cautions
Remote Login
SMTP session
hijacking
Operating system
bugs
Denial of Service
E-mail bombs

Macros
Viruses
Spam
Redirect bombs
Source routing
Application backdoors

Firewalls may only limit these items to an extent.

The level of security you establish will

determine how many of these threats
can be stopped by your firewall. The
highest level of security would simply
block everything, this would defeat the
purpose of having an internet
connection. Basic rule of thumb for all
administrators is to first block everything
and then implement rules which allow
only certain information or packets to
pass.

Why would I want a Firewall?

To keep hackers out of your network while
still letting you get your job done.
Plays an important role as a security
blanket for management
Mainly just to help
Gives you a place to store secure
information that people in your corporation
need access to.

Do They Work?
To simply answer this question, they work
to an extent, but of course, if a true hacker
wants your information they will stop at
nothing to get it. And as always, there are
accidents that do occur when testing new
software, such as probes. So just be
cautious!

Websites for Firewall Products

http://www.mcafee.com
http://www.checkpoint.com
http://www.smartsoftwareshopper.com
http://www.netscreen.com

Sites Used
http://www.interhack.net/pubs/fwfaq/
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/firewall
.htm
http://dmsweb.badm.sc.edu/mgsu890/fire
walls/fire2.htm