This report delves into the key trends, statistical insights, and geographical impacts of cybercrime, while exploring attack vectors and the industries and regions most affected. 

Cybercrime continues to grow, posing one of the most severe threats to global security and economies.  However, it’s not growing linearly—our research shows that it’s increasing exponentially.

Using global data from 2015 to 2024 to create a forecasting model, we predict that the cost of cybercrime around the world will go up to $11.9 trillion USD in 2026. By 2030, cybercrime will cost $19.7 trillion USD, eclipsing the current nominal GDP of China. 

Katy Salgado, Operations Manager at Proxyrack and head of this cybercrime research, comments on what this means for businesses looking at cybersecurity measures to protect themselves:

“The exponential rise in the cost of cybercrime signals a growing global threat that will likely demand more advanced strategies and investments in cybersecurity. This trend emphasizes the need to stay proactive with preventative measures, enhance threat detection, and refine internal systems to address this escalating risk. It also highlights an increasing focus on resilience and adaptation to stay ahead of cybercriminal activities.”

To assess the risk of cybercrime across countries, we looked at several factors. These include measures and indexes for cybercrime exposure, cybersecurity capabilities/preparedness, digital development, and legislation.

With four countries on this list (Panama, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay), Latin America seems to have some of the biggest problems with cybersecurity. The Middle East also seems to have some issues; though both the UAE and Saudi Arabia got perfect GCI scores, showing their commitment to cybersecurity development, there is still a lot of work to be done to reduce their exposure and increase their readiness for cybercrime.

Meanwhile, Europe leads the way in cybersecurity, with Nordic countries scoring especially well. France, the UK, Spain and Germany are also among the lowest-risk countries, with the US (notwithstanding its list of 

Katy thinks higher and lower-risk countries can tackle cybersecurity by focusing on differing priorities:

“This data on cybercrime risk by country shows how factors like cybersecurity readiness, digital infrastructure, and exposure vary widely around the world. This information highlights which regions may be more susceptible to cyber threats, helping guide strategic planning and response frameworks. Higher-risk countries may require more intensive security protocols and monitoring, while lower-risk countries often benefit from stronger digital infrastructure and robust cybersecurity practices. This perspective assists in allocating resources to support safer digital environments across different markets.”

Cybercrime has expanded both in scale and sophistication, with attackers continually refining their tactics. The global cybersecurity landscape is challenged by ransomware, phishing, malware, and cryptojacking, alongside other emerging threats.

Ransomware continues to be one of the most prominent forms of cybercrime in 2024:

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent attack vectors. In 2023:

As the digital world evolves, cybercriminals have adapted new methods of attack, exploiting trends such as cryptocurrency and cloud adoption.

Cryptojacking has surged as a favored attack vector in 2023:

Supply chain vulnerabilities became a significant concern:

Katy sees certain ways to prepare for these threats:

“The rise in supply chain attacks and cryptojacking underscores the importance of securing cloud environments and third-party vendors. Developing and implementing measures to mitigate these threats should be a top priority for organisational security.”

Katy thinks SMEs need to be particularly vigilant:

“This data underscores the significant financial and operational risks posed by cybercrime, particularly for SMEs, which are more frequently targeted. Strengthening defenses for SMEs and ensuring proper cloud configurations should be top priorities to mitigate potential financial losses and reputational damage.”

Despite growing threats, cybersecurity investments are lagging:

Governments are taking action to strengthen their defenses:

The future of cybersecurity lies in the hands of global cooperation, stricter regulations, and heightened awareness. As cybercriminals refine their methods and expand their reach, both businesses and governments must prioritize the defense of digital infrastructures.

 will be investment in technology, strong regulatory frameworks, and the development of a cybersecurity culture that includes 

, organizations can mitigate their risk exposure and protect critical infrastructures.

Katy identifies key areas that require the most attention:

“This data reveals critical gaps in cybersecurity investment, particularly in insurance, strategies, and employee training. The global shortage of cybersecurity talent emphasizes the need for better training and hiring strategies. To combat growing threats, organizations must adopt advanced technologies, strengthen MFA, and prioritize cybersecurity culture and cross-sector cooperation.”

As a proxy provider, our services include 

, which could be targeted or misused in various ways by cybercriminals to commit the types of attacks outlined in current cybercrime trends:

In each of these cases, it’s critical for a proxy provider to have strong 

 in place, such as monitoring for suspicious activity, implementing KYC protocols, and locking accounts linked to potential misuse.

 from our customer database where users are being 

 due to potential malicious use of our services.

One critical security measure for our services is the implementation of a Know Your Customer (KYC) process. A 

 process enhances security, ensures compliance, protects against abuse, and contributes to a better overall user experience. When your proxy provider uses a KYC process, you can be confident that they are committed to maintaining a safe, reliable, and high-quality service.

 to prevent malicious use of our services, including trial abuse, links to suspicious or fraudulent accounts, malicious request pattern recognition automation, chargebacks, KYC (Know Your Customer) issues, use of disposable email addresses, and high-risk transactions. This process is essential for maintaining the integrity of our platform, safeguarding user data, and reducing the risk of fraud.

Given the rising cybersecurity threats, proactive measures like locking accounts in our services are essential to safeguarding against malicious activity. As investments in cybersecurity lag—such as only 50% of US businesses having full cyber insurance and a global shortage of cybersecurity professionals—businesses must rely on effective security protocols. Locking accounts linked to trial abuse, suspicious activity, or high-risk transactions aligns with the Zero Trust model, ensuring that every user and device is verified. This approach, coupled with advanced threat detection technologies, helps prevent breaches and protects our services from potential misuse.

 estimations of the global cost of cybercrime for 2015 ($3 trillion USD), 2021 ($6 trillion USD), 2024 ($9.5 trillion USD) and 2025 ($10.5 trillion USD) as base data points. From these, we derived an exponential growth model to estimate the missing years and to project a forecast until 2030.

 for our seeding list, using countries with a high human development score. We then removed any countries with missing data.

 for the Global Cybersecurity Exposure Index.

 for the National Cyber Security Index and Digital Development Level.

 for the GCI score, measuring the commitment of countries to cybersecurity.

We put this data into a weighted table, giving each factor a normalized score out of ten. We then took an average of these scores to provide each country's overall cybercrime risk score.

https://www.comparitech.com/vpn/cybersecurity-cyber-crime-statistics-facts-trends/

https://aag-it.com/the-latest-cyber-crime-statistics/

https://www.upguard.com/blog/cybersecurity-websites

https://thehackernews.com/2024/10/from-misuse-to-abuse-ai-risks-and.html

Global Cybercrime Report 2025

New KPIs for SaaS Tech Companies: Enhancing Service Reliability and Customer Satisfaction with ARPU and NDR

In an increasingly competitive proxy solutions market, maintaining a sharp focus on 

, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional value in the 

 industry, and to stay ahead of the curve, we've introduced two crucial KPIs: 

. These key performance indicators are pivotal in tracking our progress toward improved service efficiency and enhanced customer experiences.

 is a key metric that illustrates how much revenue each customer generates for our business. For Proxyrack, tracking ARPU allows us to assess the profitability of our customer base and evaluate the effectiveness of our pricing strategy in the 

. An increase in ARPU signifies that our customers are finding greater value in our offerings, indicating a successful 

In the context of proxy services, a higher ARPU could mean that customers are utilizing more advanced features or premium plans, reflecting their confidence in Proxyrack’s 

. Monitoring this KPI helps us align with customer expectations, ensuring we continue to provide valuable solutions that drive satisfaction.

 measures the revenue growth or contraction from existing customers over a specified period, factoring in upsells, renewals, and churn. A higher NDR indicates that our customers are satisfied with our 

 and are likely to invest more, demonstrating their loyalty.

For Proxyrack, NDR serves as a direct insight into customer loyalty and satisfaction. A consistent increase in NDR confirms that our customers trust us to deliver reliable service, extending their contracts and investing in additional offerings. By focusing on NDR, we actively work to reduce churn and foster long-term relationships, driving business growth in the 

To successfully implement ARPU and NDR as part of our performance metrics, here in Proxyrack we followed these strategic steps:

How ARPU and NDR Enhance Efficiency and Market Value

Incorporating ARPU and NDR into our performance metrics empowers Proxyrack to deliver 

Incorporating ARPU and NDR as primary KPIs reflects Proxyrack's commitment to enhancing 

. These metrics track revenue and provide critical insights into customer behaviour and loyalty. As we leverage ARPU and NDR, we ensure that Proxyrack remains agile in service delivery, keeps customers satisfied, and solidifies its position as a leader in the 

"The charts included here are illustrative, offering valuable examples to enhance understanding of ARPU and NDR trends. While these visuals may not reflect our company’s specific data, they serve as helpful references to contextualise metrics and best practices."

The graph shows a steady increase in ARPU from 

 in September. This growth pattern can be interpreted in the following ways:

The rising ARPU over time suggests that the company is 

 strategies, where users are encouraged to purchase additional products or higher-value services.

The month-by-month ARPU increase reflects the company’s potential success in implementing pricing strategies that appeal to users, or possibly introducing premium features that users find valuable and are willing to pay more for.

2. Resource Allocation and Operational Efficiency

The gradual increase, especially in September, where the ARPU reaches its highest point, suggests that the company may be focusing its 

resources on high-value customer segments

. By targeting these segments with premium offerings or higher pricing tiers, the company is maximizing revenue per user, demonstrating efficient use of its marketing and sales efforts.

The rise in ARPU implies that the company is strategically allocating resources towards customer segments and product features that drive revenue, reducing wasted effort on low-value segments or features.

For investors, a steadily rising ARPU signals that the company has a 

This trend positions the company favorably within the market as it reflects 

 that are appealing to investors. An increasing ARPU can support a higher 

 because it shows the company can drive higher revenue per user without necessarily expanding the user base, which may be costly.

In conclusion, this ARPU trend from February to September 2024 reflects effective monetization and likely efficient customer retention strategies. The steadily increasing ARPU indicates strong 

 towards high-value users and suggests a 

 within the company’s user base. Together, these factors enhance operational 

 by reducing reliance on new customer acquisitions and improve 

 by providing a stable, growing revenue base.

If this trend holds with consistent ARPU growth, it positions the company favorably in the market, appealing to investors who value 

. NDR, as previously discussed, is crucial for evaluating a company's ability to retain and expand revenue within its existing customer base. Here’s a detailed interpretation based on the trends observed in this graph.

The graph shows fluctuations in NDR, with a decline in the middle months (April to July) and a gradual recovery from August to September. Key points are as follows:

. This indicates that, early in the year, the company was not only retaining existing revenue but also successfully 

However, from March onward, NDR begins to decline, reaching 

. The downward trend continues to a low of 

, where existing users either reduced their spending or left the service. This period could reflect challenges in retaining high-value customers or maintaining upsell momentum.

, and continues to climb steadily through 

 and possibly a re-engagement with customers who had downgraded or reduced spending during the earlier months. The company may have implemented retention strategies or new offerings that helped mitigate previous losses and retain more revenue within the existing user base.

Implications for Efficiency and Market Value

1. Efficiency in Retention and Revenue Expansion

In summary, this NDR trend from February to September 2024 reflects the company’s 

ability to manage revenue retention and expansion

, with a mid-year dip likely due to churn or downgrades, followed by a recovery phase. The synergy with ARPU trends indicates that while there were challenges in mid-2024, the company successfully adapted and regained efficiency in its retention strategies.

Overall, the upward recovery in NDR and high ARPU signal effective monetization and strong 

, which together enhance market value. Investors would see the company’s resilience in adapting to retention challenges as a positive sign for sustained growth, making the company’s revenue base more predictable and stable over time. This stability, coupled with efficient monetization, positions the company for long-term success and potential market valuation growth.

Combining NDR with ARPU for a Comprehensive View

When viewed alongside the ARPU graph, the 

, indicating a period of strong revenue expansion across both metrics. This synergy implies that the company was not only retaining customers but also effectively increasing the average revenue per user, maximizing the monetization of its existing customer base.

 correlates with a slower ARPU growth phase, suggesting that the company was temporarily less efficient in retaining and upselling users. This period could reflect challenges in convincing users to continue with premium features or additional services, impacting both retention and revenue per user.

The recovery in NDR from August aligns with a continued high ARPU through August and September, indicating that the company has regained its 

. The stabilization of both metrics implies that the company has adjusted its strategies to retain high-value customers and sustain revenue growth per user.

, as it implies users are either maintaining or expanding their spending. The initial dip and subsequent recovery in NDR suggest that, despite a temporary challenge, the company has managed to secure stable or growing contributions from retained customers.

Combined with increasing ARPU, a recovering NDR implies an 

, which is a key metric for market valuation. Investors value a high CLTV because it suggests that customers will continue to generate significant revenue over time, supporting a stronger valuation for the company.

The decline in NDR from April to July could indicate 

 or external factors impacting user retention and spending. Understanding this dip helps the company to anticipate and plan for similar cycles in the future, ensuring that retention strategies are proactive rather than reactive.

Monitoring these seasonal trends allows the company to 

 accordingly, minimizing revenue loss during predictable low-demand periods and focusing on maximized engagement and upsell opportunities during high-demand times.

The recovery in NDR suggests that the company likely introduced effective 

 mid-year, possibly addressing customer needs more effectively or enhancing the value proposition of its offerings.

, helping the company better anticipate churn risks and focus on keeping users engaged with high-value services. Strong NDR recovery is a positive indicator that the company can respond quickly to customer feedback or external challenges, bolstering long-term market confidence.

New KPIs for SaaS Tech Companies

New KPIs for SaaS Companies

There are many benefits to working in the cloud for software companies. Working in the cloud means it can be easier to deploy code and scale up your resources to meet current needs. Those are great advantages. But gaining those advantages comes with a cost—specifically, cost. Buying that flexibility and ease of use raises recurring costs in ways that impact your bottom line every month. For many businesses, that trade-off makes sense. That's especially true if you're eligible for something like 

, where the additional cost doesn't hit your bottom line at all, and you benefit by not hiring more engineers to support that infrastructure. 

, those same benefits aren't present. As a proxy provider, Proxyrack moves an enormous amount of traffic across the globe. The demands of providing proxies to the world also means needing to provide a quick response to ad hoc demands for that data. That also means powerful servers with high-bandwidth networks feeding ad hoc demands from customers for data all around the world. 

In this post, we're going to slice up cost estimates from the AWS cost calculator to do the math on how Proxyrack is saving a million dollars a month over serving the same traffic if they were to route it through AWS. 

Currently, Proxyrack colocates 112 servers. They're not homogenous, but the median server is something very close to a 

 server. Most of these servers provide 56 threads to the operating system. RAM totals aren't a key consideration for the way that these servers work. Proxyrack also pays for 100 Gbit synchronous network connectivity that is dedicated entirely to their use. Their p95 usage level is about 67 Gbits/second, which means that their network usage still has room to grow before they need to consider expanding that capacity. They serve approximately 700,000 connections every 10 seconds. In short, they move a lot of data very efficiently at a very high volume all around the world. 

What does Proxyrack pay for that connectivity? About 

. That's all inclusive: it covers the colocation space, the electricity usage, and the network bandwidth. The hardware is leased, so there's no need to factor in things like the depreciation of value with that hardware. The end result is that even though they're working on bare metal servers, Proxyrack gets a very predictable, sustainable cost for their hardware without breaking the bank. 

We'll start with the biggest piece of the pie straightaway. As a proxy provider, Proxyrack moves a mammoth amount of internet traffic. Most months, it's about 33 petabytes. Go back and read that number again. Really think about what that means. Most web applications move a tiny fraction of that amount. Fortunately for our AWS cost calculation, that data moves in both directions, but AWS only charges us for outbound traffic. Exactly how that data slices up can be difficult to calculate, but we can pretty fairly assume that about half of that data is outbound. 

That still leaves us with 16,500 gigabytes of outbound traffic to price. As you might expect, that's a pretty hefty bill from AWS. Let's price that out using the 

That's a pretty hefty price tag. Instantly, we can see that the cost of adopting AWS is more than 25x the cost of self-hosting. Given the very high price involved here, it's likely that Proxyrack could negotiate a lower price tag for this amount of throughput, but that doesn't necessarily matter. Proxyrack's primary growth engine involves people using their proxies to make internet connections. So, even at a lower price, the networking costs for AWS would likely eliminate any profit margin. 

*Note: since writing this article monthly traffic has increased and total bandwidth as you can see is 37 Petabytes

Obviously, AWS networking costs are monumental for a company like Proxyrack. Their whole business is tunneling loads of network data, so that's to be expected. But the story isn't much better when it comes to actual hardware. As we mentioned, the hardware that Proxyrack uses isn't homogenous. So, we had to do a little guesstimation to find the right hardware to price out in the AWS cost calculator. In the end, this is what felt like the best approximation: 

That approaches the same number of operating system threads and provides enough RAM and network throughput to allow each server to operate as it does in the Proxyrack environment. What does the price tag for that hardware come to? 

. Once again, we're more than 4x the cost that Proxyrack is paying monthly, just for the hardware necessary to run the business. Savvy readers will notice that this is using static hardware, and that's a fair criticism. In this case, we priced out the direct comparison. If we were to assume that Proxyrack were to only use about 80% of that elastic computing power per month, we might be able to save a few tens of thousands of dollars off the bottom line. But Proxyrack's use case is not conducive to elastic computing: they serve very high throughput numbers pretty much around the clock, meaning that there's rarely time to scale servers down. 

Data Storage, Load Balancing, Data Access

These are "smaller" line items that are included in the AWS cost that Proxyrack currently doesn't pay anything to use. But each of them is by itself a substantial cost compared to their current monthly costs. 

As you can see, added up, these don't touch the CPU or networking costs. But data storage alone is more than enough to double the current fixed cost. And load balancing requests across 112 instances is enough to equal half of what Proxyrack pays for their entire colocation budget today. 

We threw quite a few numbers at you in this post, but it's pretty easy to add them up. When we total a basic set of costs from AWS, we come out to 

 per month to replicate Proxyrack's functionality on AWS. The end result is that Proxyrack reasonably saves 7 digits of cost every month by keeping their head out of the cloud. While it's true that there are ways to optimize those costs somewhat, it's simply not possible to get Proxyrack's margin on a cloud provider anywhere near what they currently enjoy. 

Very often, young companies approach their software by assuming that the flexibility they get out of the cloud will allow them to scale their company without thinking about it. They throw piles of cloud resources at problems and assume that they'll figure out a better way to fix things down the road. For some companies, this works. With other companies, they fail before this ever really becomes a problem. For a third class of company, this is a pretty terrible idea, because by the time that they realize they have a problem, disentangling their infrastructure from the cloud provider is extremely difficult. Nobody wants to stop shipping new features for a year while you rebuild your entire deployment pipeline on bare metal. 

It's wise to spend some time early in your company's life thinking about whether the cloud makes sense for your business. It doesn't for Proxyrack. Does it make sense for you? 

 is a software developer and development manager who's done everything from IT security in pharmaceuticals to writing intelligence software for the US government to building international development teams for non-profits. He loves to talk about the things he's learned along the way, and he enjoys listening to and learning from others as well.

Saving $1 Million per Month for Proxyrack by Avoiding the Cloud

Just about everything is online these days. Shopping, banking, communication, tiresome life admin, you name it. But, even though the Internet is more convenient and open than ever, it’s still not access-all-areas. 

Millions of people put their privacy at risk daily by corresponding over the internet: long gone are the days of popping your used letters in the paper shredder and thinking no more of them.

It pays to keep your internet activity encrypted; one of the most common ways to do this is by using a 

Stick with us to find out more about VPN pros and cons, how they work and even some potential alternatives.

For those who can't quite grasp what a VPN is, let us talk you through it.

A VPN, short for virtual private network, is a tool used to create a secure connection between a device, like a phone, and a network.

VPNs allow information to travel from these two places through a tunnel of protection, encrypting the information and making for a more secure experience online.

The simplest way of explaining how VPNs work is by taking it back to basics.

Picture this: if you're sending a letter to a friend, what is the best way to ensure that the information within that letter is safe and doesn't get read by someone else? 

Well, you'd use a lock, perhaps with a code.

Using a VPN is like putting your information in a sealed, locked envelope, safe from criminals. For all of the tech lovers amongst us, here’s a brief overview of the moving parts and how they work.

So, when you use a VPN, you're essentially wrapping your internet activities in a protective layer, making it much harder for others to snoop on what you're doing. It's like having a secure, private tunnel for your online travels.

So, what are the benefits of this private tunnel? Things on the Internet have a habit of feeling a little abstract for people, so it helps us outline some of the key benefits when it comes to using a VPN.

One of the main attractions of a VPN is the security and privacy it gives people when they are surfing online. Using a VPN has huge benefits when protecting against fraudulent activity, scams or any other types of surveillance.

Businesses often use the help of a VPN provider to allow their employees to work for them safely. The VPN helps employees establish a secure, protected connection to their employer's network. This is especially effective when employees work remotely and ensures all data exchanged across the network is protected.

In some cases, material can be blocked from being accessed in certain countries. This can be due to country laws or licensing laws for the company that owns the site.

This is common with streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and any site that streams live sports.

Whatever your search history may be, you probably don't want people to be getting ahold of it. With the use of a VPN, users can search the internet completely free of surveillance from unwanted eyes. This can also help people avoid annoying targeted ads.

If you're sending files to someone else across the net, you're going to want them to be safe, in the same way you wouldn't like someone going through your post!

A VPN stops unwanted cyber hands from getting into your files, meaning you can share whatever you want freely.

Such is life: with every good thing comes a few minor drawbacks. Although VPNs are a fantastic tool if used effectively, there are some reasons why people wouldn’t like to use them, too.

In some cases, using a VPN can hinder connection speeds by around 50%. This is fairly unavoidable, as the data has to move further through a remote server infrastructure, causing delays.

If you were happy with your VPN, you might consider changing your internet service provider for better results.

Although there are free VPNs, many of the top VPN providers will charge a fee for their services. The average cost for these services can be anywhere from $5 to $100 per month, and some people may consider the benefits of using one not worth the cost.

This may seem a little paradoxical, as most people will use VPNs to feel freer on the internet. Some companies have put restrictions on their site to stop people with VPNs having access.

For some people, employing a VPN service might be a little too technical. Although many VPN providers offer a very simple service, some users would rather not go through the extra effort to protect their data.

With great power comes great responsibility; everybody knows that!

Unfortunately, people can use VPNs to facilitate illegal activity. This isn't good for anyone, as it tarnishes the reputation of VPNs and could ultimately lead to them being criminalised.

There is a wide array of ways people can use a VPN to their advantage. In the modern day, it's becoming more common for people to incorporate them into their daily internet usage. Here are some of the most likely ways VPNs are used today.

Whatever your interest in using a VPN is, it makes sense to use a reliable VPN service. Take a look at some of our 

When it comes to using a VPN, it helps to invest in one that is of a high standard, especially in an environment where data protection is a concern.

We don’t like to brag, but we offer some pretty great VPN and proxy services. Why not read a little more 

What are the alternatives to using a VPN?

Some of the cons may act as a deterrent for people looking to use a VPN. Luckily, some alternative solutions can provide similar results.

That’s a wrap! Whether it's a proxy, VPN or firewall you’re looking for, it always pays to stay protected. If you’re interested in cyber security and learning more about the World Wide Web, check out our 

If you're looking to utilize the benefits of a VPN, you're going to need access to premium VPN services.

Whatever your use for VPN servers, whether streaming, data protection or remote working, we've got some great offerings available here 

Unsure about how VPNs can help you? You can try out all of our proxy and VPN products with a FREE 

Though it depends on the country, VPNs are largely legal across the world, including places like the UK, America and Japan.

If you're unsure about the legality of using VPN connections, check the laws for the country you reside in.

Yes. Netflix is one of the most common sites that people like to use a VPN for. Using a VPN for Netflix allows people to change their digital location and access content that may not be available in their region for whatever reason.

Unfortunately, a VPN connection can often affect your internet speeds. This is because the process of using a VPN involves data passing through a VPN server in order to protect it, meaning requests take longer. With that being said, a higher quality VPN provider will have lesser effects on your connection speeds.

VPNs: What are the Pros and Cons?

Cyber attacks are becoming more and more commonplace for the internet users of today, with hackers getting more adept at breaking into private networks than ever before.

But, just as the nature of such cyber attacks has grown more sophisticated, so too have the tools available to help prevent them.

One of the most effective ways that businesses and individuals can protect themselves from these threats is by using firewalls.

But what is a firewall? And how do firewalls work in practice?

In this guide, we'll be walking you through everything you'll need to know about firewalls to help you stay safe and keep your network secure online.

What are firewalls, and how do they work?

Firewalls are critical components of any network security system. Using a complex set of predetermined security rules, a firewall controls network traffic coming into and out of a network to control and monitor the flow of data, prevent unauthorized access, and protect users against a whole range of cyber threats.

Essentially, a firewall is a network security device. Much like how a physical firewall prevents the spread of fire throughout a building, keeping people and possessions in different areas safe, digital firewalls act as virtual barriers between you and other users.

Firewalls work by examining data packets traveling between your computer or network and the internet. They operate at the network level, inspecting the source and destination of each packet and determining whether to permit or deny its passage. This decision is based on a set of rules established by administrators to filter traffic. Firewalls can be implemented through hardware, software, or a combination of both, providing a layered defense against various cyber threats by restricting both inbound and outbound connections.

When we get down to the technicalities of firewalls, things get pretty complicated. Luckily, for the vast majority of us who use firewalls on a day-to-day basis without even realising, we don't need to worry so much about these technicalities.

In more practical terms, here are the main functions:

Packet filtering firewalls are a foundational type of firewall that operates at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. These firewalls examine individual packets of data as they travel between a source and destination and make decisions about whether to allow or block them based on a set of predetermined rules. The primary goal of packet filtering is to control the flow of network traffic based on specific attributes of the data packets.

Firewalls use access control lists (ACLs) or rulesets to determine which network traffic is permitted and which is denied. These rules are established by administrators and can be based on criteria such as IP addresses, port numbers, and the type of protocol being used.

Unlike simple packet filtering firewalls, stateful inspection firewalls (or dynamic packet filtering firewalls) keep track of the state of active connections. This allows the firewall to make more intelligent decisions by considering the context of the traffic rather than evaluating individual packets in isolation.

 or intermediaries, forwarding requests on behalf of users to the Internet. This can help conceal the user's IP address and protect against certain types of attacks. Network Address Translation (NAT) is also used to map multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP address, enhancing security by hiding internal network structures.