Originally posted here by cacosapo
I didnt get that. Why a personal firewall isnt a firewall? Just because it has a "smaller line of sight" than a Nokia (or any other) appliance?

I think that a better the definition of a firewall is:

"a component that take actions based on rules about on the content of network packets and/or network flow. Depending on the implementation and the complexity of the firewall, several actions can be taken, such as drop, reject, allow, mangle, copy, log, etc."

Not a good one, but ....
Well, the agreed definition of a firewall is it affecting a NETWORK...

here is whatis.com says

A firewall is a set of related programs, located at a network gateway server, that protects the resources of a private network from users from other networks

because personal firewalls only protect a device, they are not really firewalls (by definition) its more of a technicality than anything else. Its just that when somebody goes and buys a firewall, they should be expecting protection for their network, not just their computer. I think it is wrong that companies market personal firewalls as firewalls.