CompTIA Security+ Exam Notes

CompTIA Security+ Exam Notes
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Sunday, October 13, 2024

WAF (Web Application Firewall)

 Web Application Firewall

A web application firewall (WAF) is a security tool that monitors and filters data packets to and from web applications to protect them from threats. WAFs are a critical defense for online businesses that need to protect sensitive data, such as retailers, banks, healthcare, and social media.

Here's how a WAF works:

  • Analyzes HTTP requests: A WAF examines the headers, query strings, and body of HTTP requests.
  • Identifies threats: A WAF searches for malicious requests, suspicious patterns, and known threats.
  • Blocks requests: When a threat is detected, a WAF blocks the request and alerts security teams.

WAFs can protect against a variety of threats, including:

  • Malware
  • Malicious bots
  • Zero-day exploits
  • Cross-site scripting (XSS)
  • SQL injection
  • Cross-site request forgery
  • Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks
  • Buffer Overflow

WAFs can be deployed in various ways, including network-based, host-based, or cloud-based. They are usually part of a suite of tools that work together to create a comprehensive defense against various attack vectors.

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