WINDOWS8 System Firewall Comprehensive understanding

A firewall is a software or hardware that helps prevent hackers and certain types of malware from entering your computer through the network or the Internet. To do this, the firewall checks information from the Internet or the network, and then blocks or allows the information to pass through and into your computer.

Firewalls are not equivalent to antivirus applications or anti-malware applications. Firewalls help protect against worm and hacker attacks, antivirus applications help prevent virus infections, and anti-malware helps prevent malware intrusion. You need to have these three kinds of security protection at the same time. You can use Windows Defender, antivirus software, and Anti-malware software that comes with Windows 8, or use other antivirus applications and anti-malware applications.

You need only one firewall application on your computer (in addition to firewalls that may be built into the network router). If you have multiple firewall applications installed on your computer, it can cause conflicts and problems.

Windows Firewall is paid for Windows and is enabled by default.

The following illustration shows how the firewall works:

Firewalls form a barrier between the Internet and computers

It is recommended that you use the following default firewall settings:

1. Firewall is enabled for all types of networks (private network, public network, or domain).

2. Firewall is enabled 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 in the following ways: Swipe 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, click Search), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click "Settings" and " Windows firewall.

2. In the left pane, click or click "Enable or disable Windows firewall." The system may require you to provide an administrator password or confirm your choice.

Windows Firewall's left pane

Do one of the following:

1. Click or click "Enable Windows Firewall" under each network type that you want to protect, and then click or click OK.

2. Click or click "Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended)" Under each network type you want to stop protecting, and then click or click OK.

Warning: Do not turn off Windows firewall unless you have enabled other firewalls. Shutting down Windows firewall may make your computer (and the network, if any) more susceptible to worms or hackers.

Note: If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may prevent you from completing these steps. For more information, contact your administrator.

Understanding Windows Firewall Settings

You can customize four settings for each type of network (public network, private network, or domain). To locate these settings, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Firewall in the following ways: Swipe 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, click Search), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click "Settings" and " Windows firewall.

2. In the left pane, click or click "Enable or disable Windows firewall." The system may require you 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 application to receive information, follow these steps to add it to the list of allowed applications. For example, you might not be able to use Instant Messaging to receive photos until you add an Instant Messaging application to a list that allows you to apply it.

2. Block all incoming connections, including applications that are in the list of allowed applications. This setting will prevent anyone from trying to connect to your computer without a request. Use this setting when you need to maximize the protection of your computer (for example, when you are connected to a public network in a hotel or airport). (When you select No, do not enable sharing or connect to device settings for a network, the block is automatically blocked.) If you block all incoming connections, you can still view most Web pages, send and receive e-mail messages, and send and receive instant messages.

Let me know when the 3.Windows firewall blocks new applications. If you select this check box, Windows Firewall will notify you when blocking new applications and provide you with the option to unblock the application.

4. Shut down Windows Firewall (not recommended). Avoid using this setting unless your computer is running other firewall applications.

Note: If some firewall settings are not available and the computer is connected to a domain, it is possible that the system administrator is controlling these settings through Group Policy.

Allow applications to receive information through the firewall

By default, Windows firewall blocks most applications to help ensure that your computer is more secure. Some applications may require you to allow them to receive information through the firewall to work properly.

1. Open Windows Firewall in the following ways: Swipe 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, click Search), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click "Settings" and " Windows firewall.

2. In the left pane, click or click "Allow application or functionality through Windows firewall."

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Windows Firewall's left pane

Click or click Change Settings.

3. The system may require you to provide an administrator password or confirm your choice.

4. Select the check box next to the application you want to allow, select the type of network you want to allow communication for, and then click OK.

Warning: Before you allow applications to receive information through a firewall, be sure to understand the risks involved. For more information, see what is the risk of allowing applications to pass through firewalls?

Open port in Windows firewall

If Windows firewall blocks an application, and you want to allow the application to receive information through a firewall, you can usually do so by selecting the application in the Allow application list as described in the previous section.

However, if the application is not listed, you may need to open a port (a way for the application to receive information through the firewall). For example, when you are playing multiplayer online with a buddy, 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 you no longer need to open.

1. Open Windows Firewall in the following ways: Swipe 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, click Search), enter the firewall in the search box, and then click or click "Settings" and " Windows firewall.

2. In the left pane, click or click Advanced Settings. The system may require you 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, and then in the right pane, click or click New Rule.

4. Follow the instructions on the screen.