What Are The Differences Between Stateful And Stateless Packet Firewalls?
As I understand it, stateful firewalls recognise outgoing connections and automatically allow (unless denied by configuration rules) responses while blocking all connections initiated from outside. i.e almost very simple firewall handed out free with a broadband connection. Even the cheapest home firewall/routers are stateful. Only very old models or extremely specific ones are stateless.
