A web application firewall (WAF) protects web applications from a variety of application layer attacks such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and cookie poisoning, among others. Attacks to apps are the leading cause of breaches—they are the gateway to your valuable data. With the right WAF in place, you can block the array of attacks that aim to exfiltrate that data by compromising your systems.
A firewall is a network security device designed to monitor, filter, and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. The primary purpose of a firewall is to establish a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks. Firewalls come in both hardware and software forms, and they work by inspecting data packets and determining whether to allow or block them based on a set of rules. Organizations can configure these rules to permit or deny traffic based on various criteria, such as source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and protocol type.
The GFW firewall (Great Firewall of China) is one of the most advanced and controversial internet censorship systems in the world. It is designed to regulate internet access across China by filtering content, blocking domains, and controlling data flow between China and the global internet. The GFW firewall is a massive national-level filtering infrastructure. It works by blocking access to foreign websites, censoring politically sensitive content, and enforcing compliance with Chinese internet regulations. The GFW firewall leverages several tactics to detect and prevent access to restricted content. Unauthorized circumvention of the GFW firewall is increasingly monitored and penalized in China.