# Firewalls - webcentive

Source: https://www.webcentive.com/firewalls/firewalls.html  
Format: Markdown version of the HTML page (same content, lookups and page chrome left out).

Firewalls: hardware and software that control what traffic may pass between your devices and the internet, blocking connections you did not ask for (CISA). A home router has a basic firewall; a dedicated firewall adds device isolation (IoT/guest networks), intrusion prevention, VPN and better logs. To choose one: match it to your internet speed and number of devices, check how long it gets security updates and whether features need a subscription, and keep the built-in firewall on every computer turned on too (NIST SP 800-41).  

More on webcentive: [Today in Firewall News](https://www.webcentive.com/2026/todayhub/today_in_firewalls_news.html) | [Firewalls for stores](https://www.webcentive.com/firewalls/firewallsforstores.html) | [fridge hack prevention](https://www.webcentive.com/fridgesecurity/fridgesecurity.html)  

Popular firewalls on Amazon: [firewall appliances](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=firewall+appliance&tag=webcentive0d-20) | [Firewalla](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=firewalla&tag=webcentive0d-20) | [UniFi gateways](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=unifi+gateway&tag=webcentive0d-20) | [pfSense / OPNsense mini PCs](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=firewall+mini+pc&tag=webcentive0d-20) | [VPN routers](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vpn+router&tag=webcentive0d-20) | [next-gen firewalls](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=next+generation+firewall&tag=webcentive0d-20)  

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Links last checked Nov 2, 2026.  

- **Home and small business firewalls** For homes and small offices. Firewalla and Ubiquiti are the easiest; Netgate and Protectli boxes run pfSense or OPNsense for more control.
- [firewalla.com](https://firewalla.com/) - Firewalla: plug-in home and small business firewalls (no subscription), with IoT device isolation | [X: @FirewallaLLC](https://x.com/FirewallaLLC) | [Amazon: Firewalla](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Firewalla&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [netgate.com](https://www.netgate.com/) - Netgate: pfSense Plus firewall appliances | [X: @NetgateUSA](https://x.com/NetgateUSA) | [Amazon: Netgate pfSense](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Netgate+pfSense&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [protectli.com](https://protectli.com/) - Protectli Vault: small firewall PCs for pfSense, OPNsense and other firewall software | [X: @protectli](https://x.com/protectli) | [Amazon: Protectli Vault](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Protectli+Vault&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [ui.com](https://ui.com/) - Ubiquiti UniFi: Cloud Gateways and Dream Machines with built-in firewall and VLANs | [X: @Ubiquiti](https://x.com/Ubiquiti) | [Amazon: UniFi Cloud Gateway](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=UniFi+Cloud+Gateway&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [zyxel.com/us](https://www.zyxel.com/us/en-us) - Zyxel: USG FLEX and ZyWALL small business firewalls (Taiwan) | [X: @ZyxelNews](https://x.com/ZyxelNews) | [Amazon: Zyxel USG FLEX firewall](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Zyxel+USG+FLEX+firewall&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- **Business and enterprise firewalls** For offices with IT staff or a managed service provider. Most need a yearly security subscription for updates and threat filtering; keep firmware current, because firewalls themselves are a common attack target (see CISA advisories).
- [barracuda.com](https://www.barracuda.com/) - Barracuda CloudGen Firewall | [X: @barracuda](https://x.com/barracuda) | Amazon: none
- [checkpoint.com](https://www.checkpoint.com/) - Check Point: Quantum security gateways | [X: @CheckPointSW](https://x.com/CheckPointSW) | Amazon: none
- [fortinet.com/FortiGate](https://www.fortinet.com/products/next-generation-firewall) - Fortinet FortiGate next-generation firewalls | [X: @Fortinet](https://x.com/Fortinet) | [Amazon: FortiGate firewall](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=FortiGate+firewall&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [meraki.cisco.com](https://meraki.cisco.com/) - Cisco Meraki MX cloud-managed security appliances (may block automated checks) | [X: @meraki](https://x.com/meraki) | [Amazon: Cisco Meraki MX](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Cisco+Meraki+MX&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [paloaltonetworks.com](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/) - Palo Alto Networks: PA-Series next-generation firewalls | [X: @PaloAltoNtwks](https://x.com/PaloAltoNtwks) | Amazon: none
- [sonicwall.com](https://www.sonicwall.com/) - SonicWall: TZ and NSa firewalls | [X: @SonicWall](https://x.com/SonicWall) | [Amazon: SonicWall TZ firewall](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=SonicWall+TZ+firewall&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [sophos.com](https://www.sophos.com/en-us) - Sophos Firewall (XGS appliances) (may block automated checks) | [X: @Sophos](https://x.com/Sophos) | Amazon: none
- [watchguard.com](https://www.watchguard.com/) - WatchGuard Firebox firewalls | [X: @watchguard](https://x.com/watchguard) | [Amazon: WatchGuard Firebox](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=WatchGuard+Firebox&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- **Open-source firewall software** Free software you install on a small PC or appliance (for example a Protectli or Deciso box).
- [deciso.com](https://www.deciso.com/) - Deciso (Netherlands): the company behind OPNsense, sells OPNsense appliances | X: none found | Amazon: none
- [ipfire.org](https://www.ipfire.org/) - IPFire: free open-source Linux firewall | [X: @ipfire](https://x.com/ipfire) | Amazon: none
- [openwrt.org](https://openwrt.org/) - OpenWrt: open-source router firmware with a built-in firewall (may block automated checks) | X: none found | Amazon: none
- [opnsense.org](https://opnsense.org/) - OPNsense: free open-source firewall (FreeBSD) | [X: @opnsense](https://x.com/opnsense) | Amazon: none
- [pfsense.org](https://www.pfsense.org/) - pfSense CE: free open-source firewall (FreeBSD), sponsored by Netgate | [X: @pfsense](https://x.com/pfsense) | Amazon: none
- **Software and endpoint firewalls** Software firewalls run on each computer. Windows and macOS include one; keep it on. Outbound firewalls such as Little Snitch and LuLu show which apps connect out.
- [bitdefender.com](https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/) - Bitdefender: security suites with a firewall | [X: @Bitdefender](https://x.com/Bitdefender) | [Amazon: Bitdefender Total Security](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Bitdefender+Total+Security&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [eset.com](https://www.eset.com/us/) - ESET: security suites with a firewall (Slovakia) | [X: @ESET](https://x.com/ESET) | [Amazon: ESET security](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ESET+security&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [glasswire.com](https://www.glasswire.com/) - GlassWire: network monitor and firewall for Windows | [X: @GlassWire](https://x.com/GlassWire) | Amazon: none
- [learn.microsoft.com/Windows Firewall](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/network-security/windows-firewall/) - Windows Firewall (built into Windows): keep it turned on | [X: @Microsoft](https://x.com/Microsoft) | Amazon: none
- [norton.com](https://us.norton.com/) - Norton 360: security suite with Smart Firewall | [X: @Norton](https://x.com/Norton) | [Amazon: Norton 360](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Norton+360&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [obdev.at/Little Snitch](https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html) - Little Snitch: outbound application firewall for Mac | [X: @littlesnitch](https://x.com/littlesnitch) | Amazon: none
- [objective-see.org/LuLu](https://objective-see.org/products/lulu.html) - LuLu (Objective-See): free open-source outbound firewall for Mac | [X: @objective_see](https://x.com/objective_see) | Amazon: none
- **How to choose a firewall** Checklist: turn on the firewall in your router and every computer; change default admin passwords; keep firmware updated; put smart devices on a separate network; do not expose admin pages to the internet.
- [amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=firewall+appliance&tag=webcentive0d-20) - Amazon: firewall appliances and routers | [X: @amazon](https://x.com/amazon) | [Amazon: firewall appliance](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=firewall+appliance&tag=webcentive0d-20)
- [cisa.gov/understanding firewalls](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/understanding-firewalls-home-and-small-office-use) - CISA: understanding firewalls for home and small office use | [X: @CISAgov](https://x.com/CISAgov) | Amazon: none
- [csrc.nist.gov/SP 800-41](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/41/r1/final) - NIST SP 800-41 Rev. 1: guidelines on firewalls and firewall policy | [X: @NIST](https://x.com/NIST) | Amazon: none

Number of links: 28  

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