Although firewalls and antivirus software both protect your device from threats, they work in very different ways. This post will explain the differences between firewalls and antivirus software, as well as the situations and applications that call for each.
What is Firewall
A firewall is a hardware device or software that monitors a network’s web, email, HTTP, FTP, and other traffic to protect an internal network from unauthorized access. These internal networks can range from a home Wi-Fi laptop to a corporate wireless network (WLAN.)
Firewalls use methods like web filtering and controlling web traffic based on rules set by the network administrator. For home users, these settings are usually automatic with software-based firewalls like Microsoft Defender Firewall or the Application Firewall for Mac users, the macOS ALF.
You can also use third-party firewalls with your operating system. Advanced firewalls, like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, use enhanced features such as deep packet inspection, identity monitoring, and VPN support.
A firewall designed to protect an entire network with multiple devices is called a “network-based firewall,” which is typically enterprise-grade. In contrast, a firewall that protects a specific computer is known as a “host-based firewall.” Firewalls can also be classified as stateful or stateless based on how they handle live traffic.
What is Antivirus
An antivirus is a software program designed to protect a device from various types of malware, including viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, worms, ransomware, spyware, adware, keyloggers, and rogue applications. Many antivirus applications also protect against spam and phishing. Antivirus products are also called antimalware products for obvious reasons.
Windows Security includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, and Mac users have XProtect. Both built-in antivirus solutions identify, scan, and quarantine threats in real-time. There are many well-known third-party antivirus solutions, including BitDefender, Malwarebytes, and TotalAV.
Antivirus programs primarily scan your device for real-time threats using a global database of malware signatures, identifying specific strains of malware. These signatures are updated in real-time and delivered to user devices through software updates. There are also antivirus scanning websites such as ‘VirusTotal,” used to scan individual files for malware.
Most antivirus programs focus on removing existing viruses. Microsoft Defender Antivirus primarily uses the scan and quarantine method to isolate and remove threats. Some advanced software employs additional methods like “sandboxing,” which involves running unknown programs in a secure environment.
Differences Between Firewall and Antivirus
Together, a firewall and an antivirus system are like the yin and yang of network security. Firewalls focus on perimeter protection, sealing your network from potential threats. Antiviruses complement this security by identifying and blocking any threats that manage to get through.
The main differences between firewall vs. antivirus are outlined in the table below.
| Firewall | Antivirus | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Act as a barrier between an internal network and the outside Internet. | Protect an endpoint device from malware based on real-time threat mitigation. |
| Method used | Policy-based rules, web filtering, network monitoring (including deep packet inspection), packet filtering, IP address rules, port forwarding | Scanning for online threats, real-time network updates, cloud delivered malware signatures, automatic sample submission, controlled folder access, sandboxing |
| Classifications | Network-based vs. host-based; stateful vs. stateless; software vs. hardware firewalls | Built-in antiviruses, standalone antivirus products, endpoint security software, cloud-based antiviruses |
| Threats Handled | Hacking attempts, intrusions, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, port scans, packet sniffing, ARP spoofing, malicious websites visits | All kinds of viruses, Trojans, rootkits, exploits, ransomware, man-in-the-middle attacks, rogue programs, spyware, cyber-surveillance bots. |
| Location | Network edge/perimeter | Internal to a device endpoint |
Also read: firewalls are not only used with computers. They can also be used with mobile devices. Check out this handy list of firewalls for Android.
Are There Any Overlaps Between the Two?
Despite their stark differences, firewalls and antivirus programs do have some overlapping functionalities, although their exact operations may vary.
- Multi-layered security: firewalls and antivirus software don’t operate in isolation. Together, they form a comprehensive internet protection suite that offers 360-degree security. For instance, a third-party firewall can seamlessly integrate with Windows Security’s Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Similarly, any third-party antivirus can work alongside the Microsoft Defender firewall to ensure multi-layered protection.
- Malware scanning: some third-party firewalls, such as ZoneAlarm, also come with zero hour protection and anti-phishing protection.
- Blocking malicious websites: both firewalls and antiviruses give you warning messages while you attempt to visit unsecured websites. With firewalls, you may be familiar with a “not secure” warning on the browser window. Antiviruses have similar pop-up warnings.
- Real time updated systems: both firewalls and antiviruses thrive on a system of real-time alerts which are delivered through software updates and patches. If you rely on a built-in antivirus and firewall software, you will depend on operating system updates.
When Should You Use Firewall
These are the situations where you should rely on a firewall for network security:
- Sealing off a Network: whether you’re connected to an insecure public Wi-Fi network or your device has been compromised by malware, for which you receive warning alerts, a firewall can immediately protect your internal network from external threats on the Internet. You can also adjust your firewall rules to be more or less strict depending on the security situation.
- Preventing unauthorized access attempts: hackers and network intruders often exploit insecure firewall settings to gain access to devices. Firewalls offer a robust first layer of defense against these outside access attempts, DDoS, and much more.
- Control and restrict Internet usage: whether you want to restrict certain apps from accessing the Internet or monitor your bandwidth and usage, firewalls are what help you decide the rules.
- Creating multiple secure zones: firewalls help you isolate certain parts of your network, or some folders, from outside access, helping you create inner secure zones.
When Should You Use Antivirus
In the same way, an antivirus should be used in the following cases:
- Dealing with zero-hour malware threats: whether it’s a new kind of malware variant or when your device is already infected, antivirus software immediately come to the rescue. Using quarantine, and deletion methods, they help disinfect your device, preventing further file corruptions and data leakage.
- Ransomware protection: if your device is infected with ransomware encryption, a good antivirus solution keeps your data backed up in the cloud for continuous access.
- Protecting sensitive folders: whether through the “Controlled folder access” of Windows Security or other similar folder protection features in other antivirus solutions, they offer the best means to protect your most sensitive files and folders.
- Dealing with suspicious activities: if you experience unexpected network slowdowns, or too many pop-ups and unauthorized changes, there is a good chance that your system is infected. A real-time scanning using an antivirus is the only way to get to the bottom of the problem.
After extensively evaluating firewall vs. antivirus for their differences and commonalities, it is safe to agree that you need both solutions side-by-side. Apart from them, a virtual private network is becoming quite essential in device security, Nowadays, a VPN shares a lot of features in common with antivirus solutions, as seen in this TrendMicro review. If you want to know the differences between a VPN and a firewall, there are many.
Image Credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
