Windows firewall Configuration

                Windows firewall configuration settings.

Steps:-

To verify Windows Firewall settings are applied

1.     From the Windows XP SP2, click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.     Under Pick a category, click Security Center.

3.     Under Manage security settings for, click Windows Firewall.

4.     Click the Advanced tab and verify that your configuration is applied to Windows Firewall.

How to configure Windows Firewall settings.

Warning This workaround may make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

To examine and configure your firewall settings, follow these steps:

1.       Click Start, click Run, type wscui.cpl and then click
OK.

2.       In Windows Security Center, click
Windows Firewall.

Windows Firewall includes the following tabs: 

·         General

·         Exceptions

·         Advanced

The General tab includes the following settings: 

·         On (recommended)

·         Don't allow exceptions

·         Off (not recommended)

When you click to select Don't allow exceptions, Windows Firewall blocks all requests to connect to your computer, including requests from programs or services that are listed on the
Exceptions tab. The firewall also blocks discovery of network devices, file sharing, and printer sharing. 

The Don't allow exceptions option is useful when you connect to a public network, such as one that is associated with an airport or with a hotel. This setting helps protect your computer by blocking all attempts to connect to your computer.

When you use Windows Firewall with no exceptions, you can still view Web pages, send and receive e-mail, or use an instant messaging program. 


The Exceptions tab lets you add program and port exceptions to permit certain types of inbound traffic. You can set a scope for each exception. 

For home and small office networks, we recommend that you set the scope to the local network only, if it is possible. This configuration enables computers on the same subnet to connect to the program on the computer, but drops traffic that originates from a remote network. 

The Advanced tab lets you configure the following: 

·         Connection-specific rules that apply for each network interface.

·         The Security Logging configuration.

·         Global Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) rules that apply to ICMP traffic. (This traffic is used for error and status information transmission.)

·         Default settings.

For home and small office networks, use the Network Setup Wizard to configure file sharing. With this wizard, you make sure that the firewall is configured with the highest security possible. In a typical home network, all computers are in the same subnet. In such a configuration, we recommend that you configure file sharing only for local computers. 

Note To start the Network Setup Wizard, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click
Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard.

                                            By: Hemant Gupta

                       Contact: hemantguptaraj@gmail.com/+91 9116866718