What type of firewall is also known as a Personal Firewall?

A host-based firewall is referred to as a personal firewall because it operates at the device level to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Typically installed on individual computers, this type of firewall protects the host from various threats such as malware and unauthorized access. It allows users to configure settings specific to their needs, providing a customizable layer of security directly linked to the machine it’s protecting.

While stateful packet inspection firewalls and appliance firewalls are effective at a network level, they do not provide the same personal, device-specific protections that a host-based firewall offers. Similarly, web application firewalls are specialized in protecting web applications rather than individual devices. Therefore, the unique role of a host-based firewall in safeguarding personal computing devices supports its identification as a personal firewall.