Cybercrimes and cyber threats are so common nowadays that there is a constant worry about them. People feel insecure while using the internet, so they keep looking for different security options.
If you work from home or generally use the internet and want a secure connection, then you need a firewall.
Here's all you need to know about firewalls to maximize your online security.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Firewalls For Home
- OUR TOP PICK: CUJO AI Smart Internet Security Firewall
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway
- Zyxel Next Generation USG20-VPN
- Bitdefender BOX 2
- Cisco RV110W-A-NA-K9
Comparison Chart of the Best Firewalls For Home Use
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
What is a Firewall?
A firewall is a security device that lets you have a safe online presence. It enables you to control internet traffic to allow receiving and sending data, which is free of any threats.
A firewall has a specific set of rules that you program, which keeps a check on data transfer. Thus, a firewall is one of the surest ways of maintaining trusted data sharing options.
Zyxel Next Generation USG20-VPN
How Does a Firewall Work?
Firewall works to stop any undesired data transfer or communication from happening. It works on the principle of transport control protocol (TCP) network traffic. The data moves in the form of packets that have source and destination addresses as well as the information.
The packets deliver source information to the TCP, which then decides if it is reliable or not. It allows information from trusted sources to pass through the barriers while preventing unwanted information transfer.
The TCP then sends a message to the sender to let it know that the information got accepted. This way, the firewall ensures the transfer of data with only trusted sources.
Why Did These Firewalls Make Our List?
The market is swarming with firewalls, and each of them has different promises, but only these firewalls have made it to our list as they fulfill our criteria for best firewalls. Here is what we like the most about them.
VPN
Firewalls have many features, but a Virtual Private Network (VPN) makes them the most important to us. There are two kinds of VPN: remote access VPN and site-to-site VPN. They enable users to access sites remotely as well as directly with encryption tunnel. The presence of a VPN makes firewalls easier to use to monitor connections.
Stateful Packet Inspection
This packet inspection involves a thorough analysis of the data packets before sending or receiving them. There is a major focus on source and destination addresses to make sure that the data is reliable. The layers of information get unfolded, and the inspection is complete when the data is all clear. This makes the firewalls on our list more reliable than others.
Advanced Web Filtering
The advanced web filtering feature makes a firewall keep a better check on website content. It lets you decide which kind of website content it should allow on your browser. This way, you can have a safer browsing experience without worrying about annoying pop-ups.
Quick Take - Best Firewalls For Home Use
In a hurry? Below are our recommendations for the best firewalls for home use:
Review of the Best Firewalls for Home Use
It is easier to choose a firewall for home use if you know what to look for. So, you need to look at different firewalls and their features for a better decision. Here are some of the best ones for home use, which you can choose from.
Best Overall:
CUJO AI Smart Internet Security Firewall
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers are very happy with this CUJU firewall due to its AI model. The UI/UX installation is seamless and smooth, making it easier to configure for the buyers. They also like it for its 1 GB Ethernet port, which helps in faster connectivity.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us because of its modern white body, which beats other firewalls in class. The AI algorithms are much more advanced, and they keep the malware away. We also like it for its easy parental controls, which enable the users to control its traffic. The installation is easy and quick, so it deserves to be the best overall firewall on our list.
Who Will Use This Most
The firewall is best suited for those who want a secure internet connection at home. It allows you to have a close check of the activity of your kids, so you can be worry-free. It is great for those who want to work from home and have a safe transfer of heavy files.
Bottom Line
The bottom line on this unit is that it is one of the best firewall devices on the market today. It provides much more protection than the software firewalls as it has advanced technology. Its user interface is user-friendly, and anyone can configure it easily without professional help.
Runner-up:
Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The people who bought this lately gave positive reviews mostly as they liked its 3 GB Ethernet ports. Buyers also like its fan-less operation, which makes them notice it less. This does not disturb them while they are trying to focus either. So, users have had a nice experience with this firewall.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It grabs our attention because of its sleek design and high functionality. The firewall has amazing protective mechanisms in place which make internet connectivity reliable for users. It comes with a UniFi Controller v4.x, which is not very common on the market. This makes it even more worthy of being on our list of best firewalls for home use.
Who Will Use This Most
This firewall is the most useful for people who need to transfer heavy loads of data. As it enables you to transfer 1 million packets per second of 64 bytes, it is quite impressive. No matter how large a file is, you can send it without any losses or damage to quality.
Bottom Line
In our opinion, it is a great firewall that has nice aesthetics and practical uses. The rate of data transfer and the size of files is a huge plus. It establishes 3 wired connections at the same time, which makes it even better.
Best for the Money:
Zyxel Next Generation USG20-VPN
![ZyXEL Next Generation VPN Firewall with 1 WAN, 1 SFP, 4 LAN/DMZ Gigabit Ports [USG20-VPN]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jZAq3AF6S.jpg)
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
New buyers have given a mix of responses as they had different expectations from this firewall. They find its 1 WAN and 4 LAN network generation capacity the most useful. Users have had a good time with the SFP Gigabit fiber port, as well. This, along with the SPI, has made the firewall very popular among its users.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Zyxel Next Generation firewall makes it to our list due to its high-speed connectivity. Its Virtual Private Network establishing capability is one of the most likable features. It is also one of our favorites as it has a limited lifetime warranty for hardware.
Who Will Use This Most
People of all kinds can benefit from the Zyxel Next Generation firewall. It serves the needs of multiple users as it has a great range of data transferring capacity. It analyzes the data packets closely, which makes it ideal for those who want a safe online experience.
Bottom Line
To sum up, the Zyxel firewall is best for its price and features. It holds true to its promise of providing security against malware while keeping its traffic smooth. Its rate of data transfer makes it one of the fastest firewalls out there.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers had a great experience with it overall. The 1.2 GHz dual-core processor has made them its fan, owing to its efficiency. They also like it for the online safety that it ensures even when it comes to matters like online banking.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us because of its microphone monitor alert, which helps the users keep an active check. Parental control is quite easy and comprehensive, which helps the parents keep an eye on their kids' activity. It even allows them to limit the screen usage time of their children.
Who Will Use This Most
Since it has some major requirements, it is more suitable for certain people and devices. Broadband users will benefit the most from it as it optimizes the firewall's functioning. It is also helpful to parents who worry about their kid's safety online and want to monitor their activity.
Bottom Line
The conclusion on this one is that it is one of the safest firewalls that you will find on the market. It has an easy configuration and works well for you if you meet its basic criteria. So, make sure that you look at the specifications of your devices before getting it.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers recommend this Cisco firewall to everyone who wants competitive security. They love its Quality of Service (QoS) feature, which most firewall users are looking for. Buyers have found its multiple connectivity option very helpful as well.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It catches our eye with its 802.11n standard, which makes us trust it immediately. The firewall has effective controls in place, which help it keep away all the malware. In addition, we are fond of the 4 Ethernet port connections too.
Who Will Use This Most
It's most useful for people who have to connect multiple wired devices at the same time. The Ethernet ports take care of that really well, and each connection is equally easy to configure. It is good for those people too who have to be extra careful with their information.
Bottom Line
So, after our expert analysis, this firewall has all that it takes to be worthy of modern users. It keeps away all sorts of malware and hackers so effectively that it is unbelievable. Its mechanism to block unauthorized persons makes it even more impressive. Hence, it can be a nice choice if you want to keep things high on quality and low on price.
Types of Firewalls
Firewalls come in different forms and offer different features. There are many types of firewalls, each of which satisfies the needs of certain users. The following are some types to let you see what kind you need.
Packet Filtering Firewall
They analyze the packets of data before allowing them entry into virtual channels. They look at IP addresses, source and destination addresses of the packet and the port number. The rejected packets go back, and only the trusted ones get to you.
Circuit-Level Gateway
Circuit-level gateways are a quick and efficient type of firewall. They not only look at the data but also monitor the channels of data transfer. They analyze the points of network establishment for making sure they are reliable. Still, they do not check the packets of data.
Application-Level Gateway
These are also referred to as proxy firewalls. They work by combining the techniques of both packet filtering firewalls and circuit-level gateways. They look at the data packets as well as their point of initiation, which ensures extra security.
Next-Generation Firewall
It also inspects data packets, but on a deeper level. The next-generation firewall does not look at the packet protocol, but on the actual information that the packets carry. It works to make sure that HTTP and HTML addresses are legitimate before allowing the site access to your browser.
Why Should I Get a New Firewall For My House?
A new firewall is a must for your house as it helps to secure all of your connections. Even if you think that you do not need one, a firewall is necessary. Here is why you should get a new one at the earliest.
Greater Security
The best thing about a firewall is the security that it offers. The anti-virus and malware-fighting software on your computer are a great help. But they are not as competitive as a proper firewall device. These firewalls look at both the information in the data packets and the channels through which they travel. Hence, getting a new one will help you maintain secure connections.
Efficiency
Firewalls not only help you keep a check on the source of data, but they also help in improving the rate of data transfer. They let you access heavy loads of data too, without making you wait much. The data processing is also quicker, which helps you have a more pleasant work experience from home.
Protection from Hackers
There is an increasing number of hackers online, which makes people feel insecure. A firewall can help you keep away all hackers and protect your data. So, you should get a new one for your house if you want your data to stay intact.
Conclusion
Wrapping it all up, a firewall is a must for all the modern internet users. It is a sure way of making sure that you do not receive any unwanted data on your browser.
Firewalls will also help you deal with heavy loads of data without any losses. So, you should get one to enjoy more secure internet usage.
People Also Ask
Firewalls are amazing protection devices that help you in multiple ways. From keeping the unwanted sites away to fighting off the malware, they are very helpful. We have covered almost all aspects of firewalls that you might need to know about.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to clear any confusions you might have.
Do Firewalls Stop Viruses?
A firewall stops all kinds of malicious attacks, whether primary or secondary. Since virus is one of the primary malware, firewall stops it too. Thus, you can rely on it to keep the viruses away as well. Still, you can download an anti-virus software on your computer if you want to have an added layer of security.
Are Firewalls Still Needed Today?
Previously, people used firewall software for security. But those firewalls are not effective anymore as there is stronger malware now. However, modern firewall devices are much more advanced, and they fight malware too. So, yes, you need firewalls today too, if you want a fully secure connection.
Do Firewalls Protect Against Hackers?
Firewalls are very effective against unwanted sites and content. Since hackers are unwanted and unauthorized, firewalls fight them off as well. You can control who can access your data channels with the help of a firewall, and this lets you have better security.
How Do I Check my Firewall?
Checking your firewall is quite easy if you follow these steps.
- Open your start menu and go to Control Panel.
- Click on "System and Security" and then select "Windows Firewall."
A page will open up, which contains all the settings related to the firewall. You can easily track your previous configuration there and change the settings if you need to.
