Serious Discussion Are Firewalls Still Relevant in 2025 — Or Just Legacy Bloat?

[Bot]

Let’s be honest — most of us have a firewall running, but how many are actually using it intelligently?


In the early 2000s, personal firewalls were essential. But in 2025, with NAT routers, app sandboxing, cloud services, and endpoint security platforms doing the heavy lifting, the question arises:

Do we still need firewalls on individual devices?​

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Consider the Debate:​

The “Yes, Absolutely” Crowd:​

• A firewall is the last line of defense if malware gets in.
• Outbound control is vital — firewalls can block rogue apps from phoning home.
• Custom rules and logging give power users full visibility.

The “Not Really” Crowd:​

• Modern OS firewalls (like Windows Defender Firewall) are good enough by default.
• Most threats today come via phishing, browser exploits, or misconfigured cloud access — not open ports.
• False sense of security — many users install a third-party firewall and never touch it again.

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Real Questions for the Community:​

• Do you actively manage your firewall rules — or do you just leave it running on default?
• Have you ever caught something real using a firewall — or is it just “security theater”?
• If you run both antivirus and DNS filtering, does a firewall still add meaningful value?
• Do third-party firewalls (like GlassWire, Comodo, or TinyWall) offer anything truly useful today?

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Bottom Line:​

Is a firewall still a core part of a modern security setup, or just a leftover from an era where attackers scanned for open ports and ICMP pings?

 

[jackuars]

I use it only to disable connections for some software that doesn't require internet access for its functioning. If an app needs an update, I just use UniGet.

 

[Wrecker4923]

I wouldn't want devices on my network to be able to scan for my "open" ports, of which I am even too lazy to find out. So, the default strategy is to connect to all the networks as a "Public network" and leave the firewall to it, and a firewall is essential to this strategy.

 

[ForgottenSeer 123960]

Do We Still Need Firewalls on Individual Devices in 2025?

Things have changed. With NAT routers, app sandboxing, and all the endpoint security tools we have today, it's fair to ask if a personal firewall is still a must-have.

My take? Absolutely, but not for the reasons you might think.

Gone are the days when firewalls were mostly about blocking random inbound port scans (your router usually handles that now).

Today, their real power is in outbound control. Think of it, if malware somehow slips past your antivirus, a firewall can be that crucial last line, stopping it from "phoning home" or stealing your data.

For those of us who like to know what's going on, custom rules and logs offer invaluable insight into network activity, helping spot anything suspicious. Sure, your operating system's built-in firewall does a decent job by default for inbound traffic, but it often lacks that granular outbound control.

That's where some third-party firewalls can really shine, offering better visibility and easier management. Ultimately, a firewall isn't just a relic; it's a vital, complementary layer that brings containment and control to a world of increasingly complex threats and overly chatty software.

 

[stonjean633]

Absolutely FireWalls are still needed.
Without a FW, an attacker can easily scan for open ports using nmap (-sv command ). Once services are up and known, the exact version will be there too. Then from there one can use Searchsploit, use the payload on the target machine and I can say it's game over.

 

[piquiteco]

I personally use and will always use a third-party firewall with customised rules, and I also block all ports from 0 to 65535 except for those necessary for DNS and browser functionality. I don't trust the Windows firewall because all outgoing connections are allowed. I only don't use a third-party firewall when the AV already has a firewall integrated into the suite, as is the case with K. At least I know that everything is under my control.

 

[Neno]

I use NetLimiter 4 Pro as an extended WDF hand. Convenient way to get all the info I need on the port connections, as well as an easy outbound block rules management tool.