| Since firewalls are so commonly used it is worth | | | | from the Web and sends it to the requesting |
| exploring them in greater depth. Corporations often set | | | | computer. Still another method of traffic control used |
| up rules for managing their Web connections using | | | | by firewall is stateful inspection. This technique allows |
| firewalls. A firewall enables a company to designate | | | | the firewall to compare certain parts of the data |
| how all end users can use their network and decide | | | | packet to information gathered from trusted sources. |
| what information is passed through Web servers and | | | | Information going to the firewall from the Internet is |
| other servers. | | | | monitored to determine whether it contains key |
| There are several methods a firewall uses to control | | | | characteristics that suggest the information is safe |
| traffic that comes into and goes out of the network. | | | | rather than harmful. Information designated as safe |
| One way firewalls do this is through packet filtering. | | | | passes through freely and other information is blocked. |
| During this process a firewall analyzes small packets | | | | The methods a company selects will depend on a |
| of information against pre-designated filters. All data is | | | | number of factors including personal preferences. |
| sent via small packets of information through filters. | | | | Regardless of the method a firewall uses however a |
| Safe information is passed through and unsafe | | | | company or network administrator can customize the |
| information is generally removed. | | | | firewall to filter information based on a pre-established |
| Another way firewalls mitigate traffic is through proxy | | | | set of criteria. |
| service. This means the firewall retrieved information | | | | |