A firewall is a layer of security between your network and the Internet. Since a router is the main connection from a home network to the Internet, the firewall function is merged into this device. Every home network should have a firewall to protect its privacy.
The firewall requirements for business networks are higher. The NETGEAR Pro Router integrates firewall functionality that exceeds the functionality of home routers. Very large networks need dedicated firewalls.
A firewall is often used to describe the part of a network that is protected by a firewall, as in the phrase "behind the firewall". Parts of a network which are "outside the firewall" are more vulnerable to attack.
NETGEAR firewalls are a combination of hardware and software. The hardware part gives NETGEAR firewalls excellent performance, while the software part allows firewalls to be tailored to your specific needs.
About NETGEAR home routers that integrate firewalls:
- By default, some firewall features are turned off.
- Often, applications outside your network require manually changing your firewall to allow them access. Examples of these applications include online games and Voice-over-IP (VoIP). For more information, see What is Port Forwarding?
- A firewall does not secure against every kind and attack. For example, you still need to run a virus-checker on all your computers and mobile devices. Scanning for malware, viruses, and removal of spam requires one or more specific software applications, and is not integrated in a home router.
- Other products such as Windows 11 create software firewalls. These can cause network problems, because they are trying to apply different security to your network, which other firewalls, including NETGEAR's, might not accept.
- Firewall features vary by model: Newer and more expensive products have more advanced features.
For more information, see NETGEAR.com/home. To find documentation and product datasheets, visit NETGEAR Download Center, search a product, and click on User Guides and Documentation.
NETGEAR Pro Router firewall features:
- Traffic rules, including dual WAN traffic rules, general outbound traffic rules, and NAT traffic rules
- Services that you can apply to traffic rules
- Scheduling for traffic rules
- Port forwarding and port triggering rules
- Stateful packet inspection (SPI)
- Port and service blocking
- Denial-of-service (DoS) prevention
- Stealth mode
- Blocking of TCP floods and UDP floods
For more information, see NETGEAR 10G/Multi-Gigabit Dual WAN Pro Router. To find documentation and product datasheets, visit NETGEAR Download Center, search for PR60X or PR460X, and click on User Guides and Documentation.