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Comment by Rapzid

5 days ago

SNAT is often a feature built on a network stack that also provides other "firewall" functionalities like filtering packets. Configuring SNAT is configuring a firewall? Or is only dropping packets a firewall? Or does the device need "firewall" printed on it? Does a device that has "firewall" printed on it still count as a firewall if it's not configured to filter packets? What type of filtering makes it a firewall? If an SNAT implementation drops packets is it a firewall? Is a linux/windows/bsd box with multiple interfaces a firewall? What if I slap "firewall" label on the box; a firewall now?

SNAT can be used to mask source IP and that can absolutely be utilized strategically as a layer of "security".