firewall
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firewall
A security system in information technology that protects a computer network or an individual computer from unwanted or unauthorized access from the internet.
Unsere Firma hat eine neue Firewall installiert, um sich vor Hackerangriffen zu schützen.
Our company installed a new firewall to protect itself against hacker attacks.
This word is a direct loanword from English and is made up of 'fire' and 'wall.' The literal German equivalent 'Brandmauer' (fire wall) is also used, but 'Firewall' is more common in an IT context.
Ohne eine aktive Firewall sollte man keine Verbindung zum Internet herstellen.
You should not connect to the internet without an active firewall.
In a technical context, 'Firewall' is often combined with verbs such as 'installieren' (to install), 'konfigurieren' (to configure), 'einrichten' (to set up), or 'aktualisieren' (to update).
Der Administrator muss die Firewall für das neue Netzwerk konfigurieren.
The administrator has to configure the firewall for the new network.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it is not about computers, but about people, social issues, or psychological boundaries. In this case, 'Firewall' describes a protective mechanism in a figurative sense.
Sie hat eine emotionale Firewall um sich herum aufgebaut, um sich vor Verletzungen zu schützen.
She has built an emotional firewall around herself to protect herself from getting hurt.
barrier
'Barriere' and 'Firewall' can both describe something that protects or stops something unwanted. 'Barriere' is a general word for an obstacle, either physical or figurative. 'Firewall' comes mainly from the computer world and means a system that protects a computer or network from unauthorized access. In a figurative sense, 'Firewall' can also be a protective boundary against something unwanted. When talking about technology and internet security, 'Firewall' is more precise. When talking generally about an obstacle, 'Barriere' fits better.
Die Firewall blockiert den Zugriff auf gefährliche Webseiten.
The firewall blocks access to dangerous websites.
Auf dem Weg zum Strand ist ein hoher Zaun die einzige Barriere.
On the way to the beach, a high fence is the only barrier.