Firewall is a piece of software or hardware that helps prevent hackers and certain types of malware from entering your computer through the network or the Internet. To achieve this, the firewall checks for information from the Internet or the network and then blocks or allows the information to pass through and enter your computer.
Firewalls are not the same as anti-virus or anti-malware applications. Firewalls help protect against worms and hackers, antivirus apps help prevent virus infections, and anti-malware applications help prevent malware from invading. You need to have these three security protections at the same time. You can use Windows Defender, anti-virus and anti-malware that comes with Windows 8, or use other anti-virus and anti-malware applications.
You only need one firewall application on your computer (in addition to the firewall that may be built into your network router). If you have multiple firewall applications installed on your computer, it can cause conflicts and problems.
Windows Firewall comes with Windows and is enabled by default.
The following figure shows how the firewall works:
The firewall forms a barrier between the Internet and the computer
The following default firewall settings are recommended:
1. For all types of networks The firewall is enabled (private network, public network, or domain).
2. Enable firewall for all network connections.
3. The firewall will block all inbound connections outside of your specially licensed connection.
Turn Windows Firewall on or off
1. Open “Windows Firewall by: swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click "Search" (If you use the mouse, point to the top right of the screen Corner, then move the pointer down, click “search”), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click “Set> and “Windows Firewall”.
2. In the left pane, click or click “Enable or disable Windows Firewall”. You may be asked to provide an administrator password or confirm your choice.
Windows Firewall's left pane
Do one of the following:
1. Click on each network type you want to protect or click "Enable Windows Firewall" and click Click “OK”.
2. Click or click "Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended)" under each network type to stop protection, and then click or click “OK".
Warning: Do not turn off Windows Firewall unless you have enabled other firewalls. Turning off Windows Firewall may make your computer (and the network, if any) more vulnerable to worms or hackers.
Note: If your computer is connected to the network, network policy settings may prevent you from completing these steps. Please contact your administrator for more information.
Understanding Windows Firewall Settings
You can customize four settings for each type of network (public network, private network, or domain). To find these settings, perform the following steps:
1. Open “Windows Firewall by: swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click "Search” (If you use the mouse, point to In the upper right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down, click “search”), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click “Set> and “Windows Firewall”.
2. In the left pane, click or click “Enable or disable Windows Firewall”. You may be asked to provide an administrator password or confirm your choice.
The following are the features of these settings and their application:
1. Enable Windows Firewall. This setting is selected by default. When Windows Firewall is enabled, most applications are blocked from receiving information through the firewall. If you want to allow an app to receive information, follow these steps to add it to the list of allowed apps. For example, you might not be able to receive photos using instant messaging until you add an instant messaging app to your list of allowed apps.
2. Block all incoming connections, including apps that are in the list of allowed apps. This setting will prevent anyone from trying to connect to your computer without asking. This setting can be used when you need maximum protection from your computer (for example, when you are connected to a public network at a hotel or airport). (When you select "No, don't enable sharing or connect to device" for a network, it will be blocked automatically.) If you block all incoming connections, you can still view most web pages, send and receive emails, And sending and receiving instant messages.
3. Notify me when the Windows Firewall blocks new apps. If you check this box, Windows Firewall will notify you when it blocks new apps and gives you the option to unblock the app.
4. Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended). Please avoid using this setting unless your computer is running another firewall application.
Note: If some firewall settings are not available and your computer is connected to a domain, it is likely that the system administrator is controlling these settings through Group Policy.
Allow apps to receive information through a firewall
By default, Windows Firewall blocks most apps to help make your computer more secure. Some apps may require you to allow them to receive information through a firewall in order to work properly.
1. Open “Windows Firewall by: swipe in from the right edge of the screen, click "Search" (If you use the mouse, point to the upper right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down , then click "Search”), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click “Set> and “Windows Firewall”.
2. In the left pane, click or click “Allow apps or features through the Windows Firewall”.
Windows Firewall left pane
Click or click “Change Settings”.
3. The system may ask you to provide an administrator password or confirm your choice.
4. Select the checkbox next to the app you want to allow, select the type of network you want to allow communication with, and click “OK”.
Warning: Before allowing an app to receive information through a firewall, be sure to understand the risks involved. For more information, see What are the risks of allowing an application to pass through a firewall?
Opening a port in Windows Firewall
If Windows Firewall blocks an application and you want to allow the application to receive information through the firewall, you can usually follow the previous one. As described in the section, it is implemented by selecting the application in the list of allowed applications.
However, if the app is not listed, you may need to open a port (a way for apps to receive information through the firewall). For example, when you are online with a friend for a multiplayer game, you may need to open a port for the game so that the firewall can allow game information to reach your computer. The port is always open, so be sure to close the port that you no longer need to open.
1. Open “Windows Firewall by: swipe in from the right edge of the screen, click "Search" (If you use the mouse, point to the upper right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down , then click "Search”), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click “Set> and “Windows Firewall”.
2. In the left pane, click or click “Advanced Settings”. You may be asked to provide an administrator password or confirm your choice.
3. In the left pane of the "Advanced Security Windows Firewall" dialog box, click or click "Inbound Rules", then in the right pane, click or click "New" Rules & rdquo;.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.