How is an application layer proxy firewall different from a packet filtering firewall?

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    No one can deny the fact that the dynamic rise of the Internet has brought the world closer. But at the same time, it has left us with different kinds of security threats. To ensure the confidentiality and integrity of valuable information of a corporate network from outside attacks, we must have some robust mechanism. This is where the Firewall comes into the picture. 

    How is an application layer proxy firewall different from a packet filtering firewall?

    It can be compared with a security guard standing at the entrance of a minister’s home. He keeps an eye on everyone and physically checks every person who wishes to enter the house. It won’t allow a person to enter if he/she is carrying a harmful object like a knife, gun, etc. Similarly, even if the person doesn’t possess any banned object but appears suspicious, the guard can still prevent that person’s entry. 

    The firewall acts as a guard. It guards a corporate network acting as a shield between the inside network and the outside world. All the traffic in either direction must pass through the firewall. It then decides whether the traffic is allowed to flow or not. The firewall can be implemented as hardware and software, or a combination of both. 
     

    Packet Filters –

    How is an application layer proxy firewall different from a packet filtering firewall?

    Packet filter firewall

    • It works in the network layer of the OSI Model. It applies a set of rules (based on the contents of IP and transport header fields) on each packet and based on the outcome, decides to either forward or discard the packet.
    • Packet filter firewall controls access to packets on the basis of packet source and destination address or specific transport protocol type. It is done at the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) data link, network, and transport layers. Packet filter firewall works on the network layer of the OSI model.
    • Packet filters consider only the most basic attributes of each packet, and they don’t need to remember anything about the traffic since each packet is examined in isolation. For this reason, they can decide packet flow very quickly.
    • Example: Filter can be set to block all UDP segments and all Telnet connections. This type of configuration prevents outsiders from logging onto internal hosts using Telnet and insider from logging onto external hosts using Telnet connections.

    Application Gateways –

    How is an application layer proxy firewall different from a packet filtering firewall?

    Application level gateway

    • Application-level gateway is also called a bastion host. It operates at the application level. Multiple application gateways can run on the same host but each gateway is a separate server with its own processes.
    • These firewalls, also known as application proxies, provide the most secure type of data connection because they can examine every layer of the communication, including the application data.
    • Example: Consider FTP service. The FTP commands like getting the file, putting the file, listing files, and positioning the process at a particular point in a directory tree. Some system admin blocks put command but permits get command, list only certain files, or prohibit changing out of a particular directory. The proxy server would simulate both sides of this protocol exchange. For example, the proxy might accept get commands and reject put commands.

    It works as follows:

    Step-1: User contacts the application gateway using a TCP/IP application such as HTTP.  

    Step-2: The application gateway asks about the remote host with which the user wants to establish a connection. It also asks for the user id and password that is required to access the services of the application gateway.  

    Step-3: After verifying the authenticity of the user, the application gateway accesses the remote host on behalf of the user to deliver the packets.

    Difference :

    Packet filterApplication-level
    Simplest Even more complex
    Screens based on connection rules Screens based on behaviour or proxies
    Auditing is difficult Activity can audit
    Low impact on network performance High impact on network performance
    Network topology can not hide Network topology can hide from the attacker
    Transparent to user Not transparent to the user
    See only addresses and service protocol type Sees full data portion of a packet

    What is the difference between packet filtering and proxy firewall?

    The technology is similar to traditional packet filtering firewalls, but proxy firewalls add an extra level of protection. A proxy firewall has its own Internet Protocol (IP) address, so an outside network connection will never receive packets directly from the sending network.

    How is an application layer firewall different from a packet filtering firewall Why is an application layer firewall sometimes called a proxy server cite your sources?

    -The application layer firewall takes into consideration the nature of the applications being run (the type, timing of the network connection requests, the type and nature of the traffic generated) whereas the packet filtering firewall simply looks at the packets as they are transferred.

    What is one difference between proxies and application layer firewalls?

    Firewalls can prevent unauthorized access to your computer by blocking ports and programs, whereas proxy servers effectively hide your internal network from the Internet.

    How is an application layer firewall differ?

    In a technical sense, the difference between application-level firewalls and network-level firewalls is the layers of security they operate on. While web application firewalls operate on layer 7 (applications), network firewalls operate on layers 3 and 4 (data transfer and network).