VPN Vs. Firewall – Main Differences and Uses

Data breaches and cyber threats are at an all-time high, and the cost of cybercrime has reached $9.25 trillion. This shows how widespread this issue is becoming and how effective security measures are needed to tackle cybercrimes and nip them in the bud. Two tools that are known to be effective against cyber threats are firewalls and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). But how exactly do they work, and how can they be used to prevent cyberattacks? Sit back and relax because we’re here to answer your questions. We will walk you through what firewalls and VPNs are, their benefits, and how to use them.. Let’s uncover the firewall vs. VPN debate in this jam-packed guide.

What Is A Firewall?

A firewall is a security system that establishes a barrier between internal and insecure networks, like the Internet. This barrier then filters the network traffic defined by pre-established security rules. Organizations often use firewalls to protect their networks from unauthorized access and malicious activities. Firewalls are essential in protecting networks from potential threats and cyberattacks and can exist as software, hardware, public or private cloud, or software-as-a-service (SaaS).

It scrutinizes network packets and implements security policies, ensuring unauthorized users cannot infiltrate or exit a network. Firewalls are gatekeepers; they scrutinize each data packet and decide whether to permit or block it, depending on the pre-set rules. This ensures that only legitimate and safe traffic is allowed through the firewall.

What Is A VPN (Virtual Private Network)?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, ensuring that hackers and malicious actors cannot intercept sensitive and confidential data. They cannot intercept or decipher your data since it gets routed through a secure, encrypted VPN tunnel. VPNs assign you a different IP address and also allow you to bypass geolocation restrictions, ensuring that your ISP (Internet Service Provider), advertisers, government agencies, and other third parties cannot snoop on your online activities. VPNs also offer protection when using a public network, as public networks are the most vulnerable to interception by malicious actors.

You can also use a free VPN. However, they are not recommended because they have limited servers, making bypassing geolocation restrictions harder. Limited servers also mean that those specific servers would be overloaded with users, which causes performance issues and lags. Free VPNs also compromise the user’s security and privacy since free VPNs sell your data to advertisers to make a profit and earn revenue. That’s why opting for a premium VPN provider is always recommended, as they have excellent security features and can keep your online presence secure. Our top pick is AstrillVPN, and in the next section, we will discuss why.

What Are The Major Differences Between Firewall and VPN?

Now, it’s time to explore the ultimate battle of VPNs vs. firewalls. What makes them different, and is one better than the other? Let’s find out the comparison between Firewall and VPN.

	VPNs	Firewalls
Main Purpose	VPNs create a secure and encrypted tunnel between the user’s device and the remote server. Its main purpose is to protect data in transit and enhance privacy and security by masking your IP address and encrypting internet traffic.	Firewalls monitor and control incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules. Its main goal is to protect a device or network by blocking malicious traffic and unauthorized access from malicious actors.
Functionality	VPNs encrypt data to ensure secure communication over untrustworthy networks, such as the Internet. They conceal the user’s IP address, making it seem like the user is accessing the Internet from a completely different location.	Firewalls inspect data packets that try to enter or leave a network and then allow or block them based on security protocols. It prevents unauthorized access to networks or systems by blocking specific types of traffic.
Scope	VPNs focus on securing connections and data transmission between the network and the server. They mainly protect data when it’s in transit.	Firewalls focus on protecting the network and devices from unauthorized access, malicious actors, and external threats.
How To Use Them	Most VPNs are subscription-based services you can download and install on your devices to access their security features.	Firewalls are software already built into your operating system or bought separately as hardware or software.

When To Use A Firewall Vs. When To Use A VPN?

There are situations where it’s better to use a VPN than a firewall and others where it’s better to use a firewall instead of a VPN. Here’s the rundown of when to use both for which specific situations:

Use A VPN When:

• You’re using a public network. Public networks are vulnerable to malicious actors’ interference, and using a VPN keeps your online activities secure, even when you’re using it.
• When you shop online, you share sensitive details like your email and credit card details. Using a VPN protects your data from malicious actors’ interception.
• VPNs assign you a different IP address when accessing geo-blocked content. This allows you to bypass geolocation restrictions and access whichever content you prefer.
• When you want your online identity to remain anonymous, VPNs conceal your real IP address. This allows you to remain anonymous and use the Internet freely without worrying about your identity getting compromised.

Use A Firewall If:

• You want your home and office network to be protected from unauthorized access.
• You’re running a small business and need a firewall to protect your systems from interception by malicious actors.
• You’re running a large organization, such as a school. Schools often use firewalls to block inappropriate and distracting content, which can be a hindrance to students’ mental well-being and studies. From the organization’s perspective, a firewall is crucial to protect against any external threats and attacks that can compromise the sensitive and confidential data of the staff, students, customers, etc.

What Are The Benefits Of Firewalls?

Here are some significant benefits of firewalls to uplevel your security. We will also discuss some of the most common types of firewalls used by individuals and organizations. Here are some essential reasons for using a firewall and the benefits that they offer:

1) Helps Monitor Network Traffic

Firewalls can help monitor network traffic. Data comes and goes out of your system, which creates chances for cyber threats to compromise your operations. Firewalls monitor and analyze network traffic and utilize pre-established rules to keep your systems safe and secure.

2) Helps Prevent Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks can compromise your systems and steal your sensitive and confidential data. With thousands of cyber attacks on the rise daily, you must adopt adequate security measures to prevent your sensitive and confidential data from getting compromised. Firewalls can control your systems’ entry points, allowing you to stop virus attacks. The cost of damage to your system from a virus attack can be high, so a firewall can help prevent it.

3) Prevents Hacking

Many businesses have now adopted remote working because of the pandemic, and since companies are operating digitally, so are the risks of cyber attacks. Firewalls are an essential security tool needed by companies as they prevent malicious actors from gaining unauthorized access to their data, emails, and other confidential data. A firewall can help stop these hackers in their tracks.

4) Enhances Privacy

Firewalls can help enhance your privacy. They work proactively to keep your data safe; if you’re in a company, they also keep the client’s data safe and secure. So, investing in a firewall prevents your sensitive data from getting compromised and confidential business documents from getting breached.

What Are The Benefits Of Using AstrillVPN?

VPNs have various benefits, notably enhancing your online presence and ensuring that no outside parties can snoop on your online activities. Here are some benefits of using AstrillVPN:

1) Excellent Security Features

AstrillVPN offers various security features, keeping your online identity secure and preventing hackers, malicious actors and other third parties from snooping on your online activities. AstrillVPN is packed with a bunch of valuable security features, guaranteed to keep your worries about cyber attacks at bay. Their features include a kill switch, smart mode, DNS leak protection, and industry-standard AES 256 encryption. It also provides robust encryption protocols like OpenVPN, StealthVPN, and Wireguard. These features keep your data safe and secure and protect it from interception. AstrillVPN also adheres to a strict No Logs Policy, meaning it does not have a record of any data you share or browsing sessions when you’re using the VPN. Your data gets deleted as soon as you log out of the VPN.

2) Protection From Public WiFi

You may have to use a public network when working in a cafe or waiting at the airport for your next flight. However, you must always proceed cautiously when using a public network because they are the most vulnerable to interception by hackers and malicious actors. AstrillVPN encrypts your internet traffic, preventing malicious actors from intercepting sensitive and confidential data and keeping you protected even when using a public network.

3) Extensive Range Of Servers

AstrillVPN offers an extensive range of servers, with 300+ servers across 57+ countries. The more servers there are, the easier it becomes to bypass geolocation restrictions and gain uninterrupted access to censored content. Having a wide range of servers to choose from also allows you to access locations where you can get things at a discounted rate for the same product that would be sold at a more expensive rate elsewhere. It allows you to stream content without any buffering issues since it won’t be overloaded with users.

4) No Bandwidth Throttling

Using AstrillVPN allows you to bypass ISP throttling. When your ISP detects that you’re using applications and programs that consume a lot of bandwidth, like streaming a show or playing an online game, your ISP throttles your internet connection, causing it to slow down and ruin your online experience. By using AstrillVPN, you’re assigned a different IP address from a different location, making it challenging for your ISP to detect your whereabouts and your online activities and allowing you to bypass ISP throttling. AstrillVPN is an ideal choice when you’re looking to stream, game, and torrent.

What Are The Major Types Of Firewalls?

Now that you’re aware of all the benefits, here are some of the major types of firewalls that are frequently used:

1) Packet Filtering Firewall

These firewalls scrutinize data packets that pass through them and filter them through parameters like source and destination IP addresses, protocol types, and port numbers. Although these types of firewalls are simple and cost-effective, they cannot examine the content of the packets, making them less effective when facing complex attacks.

2) Proxy Firewall

A proxy firewall is an early firewall device that is the gateway from one network to another for specific applications. Proxy servers offer additional functionalities like content caching and helping prevent direct connections from outside the network. However, this may impact the type of applications they can support.

3) Stateful Inspection Firewall

This traditional firewall allows and blocks traffic depending on state, port, and protocol. It monitors activities from the opening of a connection until it’s closed. Filtering decisions depend on administrator-defined rules and context, which refers to using information from previous connections and packets that are a part of the same connection.

4) Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

This network security device offers capabilities beyond traditional, stateful firewalls. While a traditional firewall offers stateful inspection of incoming and outgoing traffic, a next-generation firewall has additional features and functionalities, including an intrusion prevention system (IPS), threat intelligence, URL filtering, and application awareness and control. An NGFW simplifies the administration process and reduces complexity with unified policies.

Wrapping Up

VPNs and firewalls are crucial to enhancing online privacy and security and taking it to the next level. They both have the same role of enhancing your privacy but differ. VPNs mask your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic, whereas firewalls are a barrier between trusted and untrusted external networks. One isn’t better than the other, and you may wonder how firewalls and VPNs work together.

The truth is that you should use both tools simultaneously to enhance your online privacy and security. Combining the features of VPNs and firewalls for top-notch security gives you a safer online experience and protection from malicious actors who want to compromise your sensitive and confidential data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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