Firewalla Unveils Software Update Including Time Limits, Vulnerability Scans
Firewalla Unveils Software Update Including Time Limits, Vulnerability Scans
App version 1.61 inspired by user feedback to offer more granular control
SAN JOSE, Calif. — May 23, 2024 — As home and small business networks become faster and more capable, users need more control to manage activity and protect themselves.
Firewalla, a leader in consumer-friendly plug-and-play home firewall devices, has unveiled a software update giving users even more control and visibility over their networks, including new features like user activity time limits and a system vulnerability scan tool. Firewalla app version 1.61 also includes dynamic control buttons, rule shortcuts, sorting and grouping by device type, and a remodeled user interface based on community feedback.
“What’s made Firewalla successful is how dedicated our community is to building better networks, and this update shows how much we value and respond to their perspective,” said Jerry Chen, Founder of Firewalla. “Aside from our improved UI, user feedback also inspired the addition of the time limits feature. Parents specifically asked for it to combat the struggle of managing their kids’ screen time.”
A poll of Firewalla users showed that 38.2% were concerned about their kids accessing harmful or inappropriate content, 31.2% feared addiction to social media platforms, and 13.4% worried about excessive gaming screen time. More than half of respondents (56.3%) said Firewalla has made a major difference in their ability to address concerns over their children’s online/social media usage, and the time limits capability provides more granular control over when and for how long users have access to specific platforms. With app version 1.61, Firewalla can detect, track, and limit Netflix, YouTube, Fortnite, Roblox, and TikTok usage, with more apps to be added soon.
Another prominent feature is the system vulnerability scan, which allows users to discover weak credentials on commonly used ports. Beta users have found unprotected printers, robotic vacuums, and FTP servers using this feature, which assures them they have the most visibility into what devices are connected to their networks. Devices with default passwords or unsafe credentials make networks vulnerable to hackers who can leverage those devices for access and attack the network or use them as jump points for other hacks.
According to one report, more than 6 billion credentials were exposed last year across the internet and dark web. Firewalla checks each port’s protections against its extensive intelligence database of common username and password combinations. This feature also detects issues like services that don’t have password protection or have a default password.
Firewalla is committed to providing users with more control, visibility, and customization based on their feedback. Existing users can update to version 1.61 now, and new users can purchase a Firewalla device. Their latest release, the Firewalla Gold Pro for Wi-Fi 7, is currently available under pre-sale.
Learn more about what’s new in app version 1.61.
About Firewalla
Firewalla offers powerful home cybersecurity that’s accessible, affordable, and easy to use. Since it was founded in 2016, Firewalla has sold network protection solutions to hundreds of thousands of customers across more than 100 countries. With a team made up of former Cisco engineers who have real-world experience running corporate information security, Firewalla is working to secure the world’s internet. Learn more at Firewalla.com.
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