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Sometimes, open-source firewall code is outdated or lacks documentation and community support.
Other times, the firewall has compatibility issues.
Open-source web link Firewalls
Lets take a look at the best open-source web link Firewalls first!
1. pfSense
pfSense software is a free, open-source, customized distribution of FreeBSD.
Hosted and developed by Rubicon Communications (in business as Netgate), pfSense has multiple use cases.
Ive thoroughly checked the pfSense documentation and found that it has rich resources for each use case.
So you will not face any issues setting up and using the pfSense firewall.
It is also available on the Azure and AWS marketplaces.
pfSense Community Edition is free.
But pfSense+ is a commercial product that runs on Netgate hardware.
I didnt notice much difference between pfSense and pfSense Plus, except that pfSense Plus includes professional support.
pfSense looks promising and worth a try.
you might also run it on a virtual private cloud.
ConsiderKamateraif you want to host pfSense there.
IPFire
IPFire is an open-source Linux-based firewall operating system designed to protect a web connection against evolving cyber threats.
IPFire Features
What I also liked is that IPFire is not just a firewall.
OPNsense
OPNsense is a FreeBSD-based firewall and routing system, operating as a fork of pfSense and m0n0wall.
It targets various markets, such as schools, remote offices, the hospitality industry, etc.
Im impressed with OPNsenses commitment to address evolving security threats.
It offers weekly security updates and releases two major updates each year, helping businesses schedule upgrades.
Each release follows a roadmap with clear development goals.
Here is a Reddit user who is satisfied with OPNsenses offering.
OPNsense Features
4.
SmoothWall
The SmoothWall Open Source Project started in 2000 to create and manage SmoothWall Express, a free firewall.
It has a secure Linux-based operating system and a simple web interface for easy management.
Since its an open-source tool that offers community support, its community size is a massive advantage.
Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW)
UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is a firewall management tool for Linux.
It simplifies managing iptables (the underlying firewall) by providing an easy-to-use command-line interface.
The tool helps control incoming and outgoing data pipe traffic with simple commands to allow or block connections.
It supports both IPv4 and IPv6.
It provides a simple way to manage firewall rules and improve server security.
The tool includes intrusion detection, login failure tracking, IP blocking, and port control.
It also integrates with popular control panels like cPanel and DirectAdmin.
Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage, even for non-technical users.
The platform lets you block/allow traffic by country.
EFW can also protect your internet from DoS & SYN/ICMP flood attacks.
It is powered by deep packet inspection technology to detect and block advanced threats.
Check them out below!
Its flexibility and capabilities have given it the moniker of theSwiss Army Knife of WAFs.
The tool uses a flexible programming language to protect web applications from various attacks.
It can monitor and log HTTP traffic and analyze it in real time.
It protects millions of websites, making it one of the most popular WAF tools available.
I like ModSecurity because its flexible and allows you to create your own security rules.
It supports different security models, which gives you control over how you protect your applications.
It helps prevent attacks by blocking known vulnerabilities and zero-day exploits.
It analyzes HTTP requests for protocol violations and unusual parameters that could harm the app.
WebKnight also scans for OWASP Top 10 attack patterns and other threats identified since 2002.
Its released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), making it free to use and modify.
Shadow Daemon
Shadow Daemon is a web utility firewall that analyzes and stores web requests at the utility level.
It detects and blocks malicious traffic before it reaches the server.
BunkerWeb
BunkerWeb is an open-source Web tool Firewall (WAF) and web server based on NGINX.
Its fully configurable through a user-friendly web UI or CLI, which makes it simpler to manage firewall parameters.
5 Disadvantages of Open-Source Firewall
Here are the top five disadvantages of open-source firewalls.
What Is the Difference Between a connection and a Web program Firewall?
It controls inbound and outbound traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols.
It is suitable for protecting internal networks and data centers.
A WAF inspects the content of requests and responses, providing tailored protection for web applications and APIs.
While data pipe firewalls secure the infrastructure, WAFs focus on protecting web applications from program-level vulnerabilities.
Many businesses use both for layered security.
What Is the Difference Between a Stateless and a Stateful Firewall?
Check out our take onstateful vs. stateless firewallsto learn more!
Conclusion
Firewallsprotect your web connection and applications from unauthorized access and cybersecurity attacks.
So you must use a reliable firewall.
