Introduction :
Open-source firewall is best known for protecting the network from threats by filtering inbound and outbound traffic and ensuring network security.
Whenever we talk about open-source firewalls, the first thing that strikes us is “fully Free.”
However, let me explain it: open-source is the term used for software distributed under a license that allows users to access source code.
Basically, this type of license simply allows users to analyze and modify the software with complete independence.
Moreover, open source promotes user collaboration, which means rapid and varied development of many tools.
Table of Contents
What is Open Source Firewall?
What are the benefits of open source firewall?
10 Best Open Source Firewalls 2024
1.Perimeter 81
2.PfSense
3.Untangle Firewall
4.OPNsense Firewall
5.Endian
6.IPFire
7.IPCop Firewall
8.Shorewall
9.SmoothWall
10.ClearOS
Open Source Firewall Features
Conclusion
What is Open Source Firewall?
Generally, the Open Source Firewall belongs to the community; hence, its development and updates depend mainly on the community.
However, this also increases confidence in the continuity of the program.
Hence, in this post, we will show you the 10 best open-source firewalls to protect your infrastructure.
Just after the arrival of Windows XP Service Pack 1, Windows, by default, offered all its users a very basic and simple firewall.
Generally, with this Windows firewall, we can control the use of our internet connection tools and apps.
Not only that even, but it also protects us from all the possible computer attacks that may arrive through the network.
With the arrival of the Windows 10 Creators Update and the excellent operation of Windows Defender and its firewall, this basic security software has gained great importance and has made more and more users trust it.
But, the fact is that this system couldn’t offer you the whole thing and features that you are finding to secure your infrastructure.
Generally, open-source software offers an economical and adjustable option to deploy basic networking for the infrastructure and home.
Not only that even, but the open-source products also provide us with simple routing and networking functions like DCHP and DNS.
What are the benefits of open source firewall?
These are the main benefits of open source software:
Lower cost: With open source licensing, the code is free.
When you use an open source firewall, you pay for support, security protection, and help managing interoperability.
10 Best Open Source Firewalls 2024
- Perimeter 81: A cloud-based firewall service that offers network security for organizations.
- PfSense: A popular firewall/router software based on FreeBSD that features a comprehensive web interface for configuration.
- Untangle Firewall: A network security appliance that provides spam blocking, virus scanning, web filtering, and VPN capabilities.
- OPNsense Firewall: A user-friendly firewall based on FreeBSD that focuses on security and transparency.
- Endian: A unified threat management (UTM) system that combines stateful firewall, VPN, and security services for network administration.
- IPFire: A versatile Linux firewall distribution that focuses on ease of setup and a high customization.
- IPCop Firewall: A Linux-based firewall geared towards home and SOHO users, offering essential network protection.
- Shorewall: A gateway/firewall configuration tool for GNU/Linux, focusing on flexibility and ease of use.
- SmoothWall: A firewall that focuses on ease of use, originally designed for home and school environments.
- ClearOS: A Linux-based network and gateway server designed for small businesses and distributed environments, integrating many open source technologies.
Open Source Firewall Features
| Open Source Firewall | Key Features |
|---|---|
| 1. Perimeter 81 | 1. Secure remote access 2. Cloud agnostic integration 3. Easy to configure & maintain 4. Granular user segmentation 5. Checks for Endpoint Compliance |
| 2. PfSense | 1. Spam Blocker Lite 2. Phishing blocker 3. Virus blocker 4. OpenVPN 5. Blocking a country |
| 3. Untangle Firewall | 1. Forward Proxy Caching 2. Capital portal 3 Traffic Shaper 4. Virtual Private Network 5. Help with wireless networks |
| 4. OPNsense Firewall | 1. Email security 2. Multi-WAN 3. Intrusion Prevention 4. Quality of service 5. How to Forward Ports |
| 5. Endian | 1. interfaces with typical behavior 2. VLAN available 3. Indirect installation to a flash device 4. Web interface 5. Add-ons and extensions that are flexible |
| 6. IPFire | 1. Time server 2. DHCP server 3. Dynamic DNS 4. Catching name server 5. Help for OpenVPN and IPsec |
| 7. IPCop Firewall | 1. Great interface 2. Multiple interfaces per zone 3. Multiple zones per interface permitted 4. Different rules for proper access 5. Setting up a stateless firewall |
| 8. Shorewall | 1. Great interface 2. Multiple interfaces per zone 3. Multiple zones per interface permitted 4. Different rules for proper access 5. Setting up a stateless firewall |
| 9. SmoothWall | 1. Outbound Filtering 2. Modified time and Accessed time 3. Simple to use and offers a great quality of service 4. UPnP support 5. Gateway for the Application Layer |
| 10. ClearOS | 1. Help with files and prints 2. Managing users and groups 3. List of Servers 4. Intrusion detection and prevention system 5. Market for Applications |
All these products can be easily downloaded and deployed on any hardware, on a virtual platform, or in the cloud as well.
However, many also sell them with pre-configured appliances if you like their functions or support and don’t want to build your own machine.
Here in this article, we have mentioned the best open-source firewalls for infrastructure and homes.
However, apart from all these things, we found pfSense and Untangle are some of the best firewalls that could be used in various environments.
1. Perimeter 81
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Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) from Perimeter 81 can be set up in minutes, providing safe, off-site access to cloud based firewall services for businesses. Additionally, it enables administrators to restrict access to certain network resources based on the identities of individual users or groups.
This means that administrators can simply regulate who in the organization can access which resource. Unlike physical firewalls, the FWaaS from Perimeter 81 can be set up in minutes.
FWaaS’s user segmentation and fine-grained permission-based controls are powerful tools for protecting corporate data and mobile employees. It works with every platform (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and even Linux servers) and any device.
Key Features
- Integration with threat intelligence services to keep up with the newest security holes and threats.
- Monitoring and logging all of a user’s actions for security checks and responding to incidents.
- Connect to Wi-Fi networks safely, making sure that even wireless links are safe.
- Integration with APIs lets security rules be automated and changed to fit your needs.
- Endpoint security features may be part of some systems to ensure that devices connecting to the network meet security standards.
| What is Good? | What Could Be Better? |
|---|---|
| Secure Remote Access | Dependency on Internet Connectivit |
| User-Friendly Interface | Performance Impact |
| Scalability and Flexibility | |
| Granular Access Control |
2. PfSense
The pfSense open source firewall is quite similar to Untangle, although it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as Untangle does, such as web filtering and antivirus.
With the CD image (.iso), USB image (.usb), or Embedded image (.img) of pfSense, you can install it on your own hardware or virtual machines; it is based on FreeBSD with a modified kernel.
In addition, you can purchase hardware with pfSense already installed on it. To clarify, a yearly membership to access all of the features and support is available for $99.
In addition, you can get a digital book on pfSense, automatic backups, and a video collection with the most relevant developer tutorials.
Key features
- High availability installations can keep pfSense running if hardware fails. Load balancing distributes traffic across many WAN links.
- Multiple WAN (Wide Area Network) connections allow you to connect to the internet multiple ways or share the load.
- Alternatively, pfSense can function as a DNS server and forwarder for local devices.
- Stateful firewall rules, NAT, and data blocking are supported.
- IPv6, the next Internet Protocol, works with pfSense.
| What is Good? | What Could Be Better? |
|---|---|
| Open-Source and Free | Complexity for Small Deployments |
| Customizable and Extensible | Hardware Requirements |
| Comprehensive Security Features | |
| High Performance and Stability |
3 . Untangle Firewall
Untangle Open Source Firewall is based on Debian 8.4 and is quite similar to ClearOS. The core features of the network are supplied, and users can access both free and paid applications to expand its capabilities.
Technically known as NG Firewall, this firewall system may be readily installed on any physical or virtual machine, or you can purchase a device with NG Firewall preconfigured, as we discussed earlier with PfSense.
Key Features
- Untangle protects against phishing attacks with capabilities that detect and stop them.
- To increase speed and reliability, Untangle’s WAN balancing technology distributes network traffic across many WAN connections.
- With bandwidth control and QoS, administrators can prioritize traffic and ensure critical applications have the resources they need.
- Untangle includes many reporting and logging features to help managers monitor network activities, identify trends, and create reports.
- SSL Inspector scans encrypted messages for risks and filters them to make them safer.
| What is Good? | What Could Be Better? |
|---|---|
| User-Friendly Interface | Complexity for Small Deployments |
| Comprehensive Security Features | Limited Advanced Networking Features |
| Extensive Reporting and Logging | |
| App Store for Additional Functionality |
4. OPNsense Firewall
OPNsense is a comprehensive Open Source Firewall that is based on FreeBSD and is superior to Deciso’s firewall software. A Dutch firm designs and manufactures a variety of networking devices and offers paid customer service plans for OPNsense.
It is a fork of PfSense, originally developed by the m0n0wall team, and is based on FreeBSD. The m0n0wall development team was transferred to OPNsense by its creator, Manuel Kasper, after the project collapsed in February 2015.
OPNsense supports both i386 and x86-64 architectures and features a web-based user interface.
Key Features
- Multiple WAN (Wide Area Network) connections allow you to connect to the internet multiple ways or share the load.
- Dynamic DNS services map dynamic IP addresses to domain names, making them easier to reach from afar.
- As a DNS server and forwarder, OPNsense may resolve local DNS queries.
- OPNsense supports IPv6, the future Internet Protocol.
- As a transparent caching proxy, OPNsense speeds up online browsing by storing frequently used content.
| What is Good? | What Could Be Better? |
|---|---|
| Open-Source and Free | Limited Commercial Support |
| Customizable and Extensible | System Updates and Compatibility |
| Comprehensive Security Features | |
| Active Community and Support |
5 . Endian
Endian Firewall is one of the best Open Source Firewall Security solutions based on Linux are available from the Endian Firewall Community (EFW).
There is no need to give or provide assistance, as the software can be obtained without cost. It provides a wide variety of customization options for enhancing existing firewall security.
Users and developers alike will find this program useful for setting up even the most fundamental forms of web and email security with minimal effort.
However, there are more features available, such as robust open-source antivirus protection and VPN capabilities while running EFW.
Key Features
- As a wireless access point, Endian can connect to Wi-Fi networks.
- DHCP servers are built into Endian to automatically assign IP numbers to network devices.
- Endian can resolve DNS queries for local devices.
- The online interface lets administrators manage firewall rules and policies.
- The security solution always has the latest updates thanks to Endian’s system changes and maintenance tools.
| What is Good? | What Could Be Better? |
|---|---|
| Interface that is easy to use | Not enough community and documentation |
| Security solution that does everything | Changes in Feature Set |
| Help with VPNs | |
| Filtering the web and proxy |
6. IPFire
IPFire is the top open-source firewall since it was built on top of Netfilter. It is often modified and created with both modularity and a high level of flexibility in mind.
Simple configuration allows for usage as a VPN gateway, proxy server, or firewall. Thousands of developers from across the world work together in an online community to update and improve this program.
When scanning your network for vulnerabilities, this program also employs an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). In other words, it will immediately stop the attacker if it detects an attack.
Key features
- As an internet access point, IPFire can connect wirelessly.
- IPS features detect and stop network threats, adding protection.
- IPFire’s “update acceleration” technology speeds up system upgrades.
- Multiple WAN links can be used for redundancy or load balancing.
- IPFire add-ons and extensions enable users to customize their program.
| What is good? | What could be better? |
|---|---|
| Security-Focused Features | Dependency on Open-Source Components |
| User-Friendly Web Interface | Limited Commercial Support |
| Modular and Extensible | |
| Performance and Stability |
7. IPCop Firewall
IPCop, an open-source firewall distribution based on Linux, allows us to keep our network at home and in the office safe and secure.
It lacks a graphical user interface and is only accessible via the command line, which may make it challenging for some users to install and set up the application.
In addition, you might need to have some server and firewall expertise to use the software properly. This means that sophisticated users have a lightweight option to choose from.
This program is under 60MB in size and was primarily developed for computers with an i486 processor.
Key features
- It has a DHCP server to assign IP numbers to network devices.
- IPCop resolves DNS for networked devices.
- IPCop displays and logs network data for analysis and problem-solving.
- It is designed for wired networks, but it may operate with Wi-Fi devices with added hardware.
- This often has system administration and update capabilities to upgrade firewall software with security patches.
| What is good? | What could be better? |
|---|---|
| Open-source | Limited scalability |
| User-friendly interface | Software updates |
| Security features | |
| Community support |
8. Shorewall
Shorewall Linux is a free open-source firewall for servers and routers. This means its applicability is not restricted to VMs alone. It is classified as an IPtables setup tool that may transform a server into a hardware firewall appliance.
Shorewall customers can pick a distribution that best suits their requirements. There is also a Linux distribution with two network interfaces that can function as a router and firewall for a private network.
The firewall/router and DMZ setup can be customized per user thanks to the router’s three separate interfaces. The installation options are useful for users who need to conceal many public IP addresses.
Key features
- Managers can set IPv4 and IPv6 traffic policies with Shorewall.
- This enables users to add add-ons and extensions to their firewall settings for new functionalities.
- It can be employed in dynamic networks due to its dynamic zones and connections.
- This allows administrators to set conditional rules for specific situations.
- Shorewall managers can create blacklists and whitelists to restrict or allow traffic based on rules.
| What is good? | What could be better? |
|---|---|
| Flexible configuration | Command-line interface |
| Extensive documentation and resources | Dependency on Netfilter |
| Support for complex networks | |
| Logging and reporting |
9. SmoothWall
Smoothwall is an open-source firewall program written in the Python programming language and based on the Linux operating system.
Installation and use required minimal familiarity with Linux, and configuration and maintenance were handled using a web-based graphical user interface.
Local area networks, virtual private networks, firewalls (internal and external), Web proxy acceleration, and traffic monitoring and analysis are just a few of the features that this program supports.
Key Features
- SmoothWall’s logging tools help managers monitor the network and provide reports for analysis and problem-solving.
- SmoothWall’s user authentication lets administrators restrict access.
- It allows port forwarding to transfer data between ports.
- This remote control lets administrators configure and monitor the firewall.
- SmoothWall’s system updates and maintenance tools keep the firewall software current with security upgrades.
| What is good? | What could be better? |
|---|---|
| Security-focused | Dependency on SmoothWall hardware |
| User-friendly web interface | Commercial support options |
| Bandwidth management | |
| Add-on modules |
10. ClearOS
More than simply a router firewall, ClearOS is a full-fledged open-source firewall and unified threat management (UTM) system with more than 120 customizable features available as applications. The web-based interface allows for customization of each and every one of them.
In addition, they have ClearVM, a management solution that allows them to install many instances of ClearOS, in addition to other Linux distributions and even Windows, on a single physical server.
Key Features
- Managers can prioritize network traffic with QoS to ensure critical programs have enough bandwidth.
- It can control bandwidth usage, allowing administrators to allocate resources to users.
- This provides email and chat capabilities like collaboration, filtering, and spam prevention.
- It can centralize storing and writing as a file and print server.
- A ClearOS DHCP server assigns network device’s IP numbers automatically.open-source
| What is good? | What could be better? |
|---|---|
| Easy to Use | Third-Party Software Availability |
| Modular Design | Customization Constraints |
| Extensive Feature Set | |
| Community Support |
Conclusion
According to Cyber Security News research, these are some of the best open-source firewalls available in the open-source world to protect your infrastructure.
We have chosen them because they are cost-effective and user-friendly applications.
So here, we have provided all the information about the top 10 open-source firewall lists to protect your infrastructure.
So, try them and see which one is better for you and more helpful. Hence, if you have any other open-source firewall application that you have used and think is most suitable, then please let us know in the comment section below.
