- I decided to search for articles comparing hardware and software firewallsSource 1: http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/w ... hp/3103431
This is a good article that compares hardware firewalls and software firewalls...
Summarizing it:
Hardware Firewall:
- Pro: No resource usage on the computers
- Pro: Can protect a range of computers behind the firewall
- Con: Most routers allow outbound traffic without checking. So, if malicious traffic originated from within the network, it would not stop it - for example, a virus in your computer sending mass mails using port 25, or a key logger somehow installed
Software Firewall:
- Con: Well the firewall runs off of system resources
- Con: Can protect only the computer it is installed on
- Pro: Has strict controls in the sense of what "programs" are allowed access and at what ports, rather than just general port settings and the like. So, if there is a virus and it tries to use port 25 to send mass spam mail, the software firewall would not let it run, as it is not an authorized program to use that port, even before that - to access the net
Source 2: http://blog.zonelabs.com/blog/2006/03/3 ... sons_.html
Another site, this ones more of why hardware firewall alone isn't enough
Summarizing it:
- Hardware firewalls won't prevent spreading of malicious worms from spreading and damaging other computers that have gotten into the network
- At public hotspots, you have no firewall!
- A more informed filtering decision can be made, i.e. better tailored rules can be made for better security
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