WAF (Web Application Firewall)
Web Application Firewall
A security system that protects web applications and websites from malicious attacks.
In Simple Terms
A WAF is a system that protects the programs running behind a website from targeted attacks. It stops malicious actors online from sending harmful commands through things like a website's input forms to steal data or damage the site. It constantly monitors internet traffic and automatically blocks any suspicious data it detects.
Behind the Name
WAF stands for Web Application Firewall. A firewall is like a fire-blocking wall that protects a building from spreading flames, and this name was given because it protects the programs running behind a website from trouble in the same way.
Take a Closer Look!
A WAF is a security software or device built specifically to protect websites and web applications.
It constantly monitors the data coming into a website from the internet and blocks unauthorized access and attacks.
While a general firewall watches over the entrances and exits of an entire network, a WAF is different in that it directly protects the programs running on the website itself.
Think of a regular firewall as a guard stopping suspicious people at a building's entrance, while a WAF is more like someone standing at the door of each individual room, carefully checking for anything suspicious being carried in.
This helps prevent things like personal information being stolen on shopping sites or web pages being tampered with.
Put simply, a WAF acts as a website's shield.
Even if malicious commands are entered into a contact form or login page on a website, the WAF detects them and keeps them from reaching the database behind the scenes.