Windows 8: System Firewall Advanced Settings

Windows Security Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Windows 8: System Firewall Advanced Settings

This section provides a tutorial example on how to review and modify Windows Firewall advanced settings on Windows 8 system.

Windows Firewall basic settings presented on the "Customize Settings" screen as described in the previous tutorial offers quick ways to turn on and turn off firewalls. But information on the "Customized Settings" screen is not so easy to understand. It is much easier to understand if you review the full list of settings on the "Advanced Settings" screen.

1. Go to "Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Firewall" and click the "Advanced Settings" link. You will see the firewall "Windows Firewall with Advanced Settings" screen.

2. Right mouse click on "Windows Firewall with Advanced Settings" on the left side of the screen and select "Properties". You will see detailed settings for each network configuration.

3. Click the "Private Profile" tab. You will see settings for your private network, which is usually covers your home Wi-Fi Internet connection. The default settings should be:

Specify behavior for when a computer is connected to a private
network location

Firewall state:         On (recommended)
Inbound connections:    Block (default)
Outbound connections:   Allow (default)
...

Note that:

"Inbound connections: Block (default)" means all inbound connections are blocked unless they are explicitly allowed in an "Inbound Rule".
"Outbound connections: Allow (default)" means all outbound connections are allowed unless they are explicitly blocked in an "Outbound Rule". Be careful, the outbound logic is the reverse of the inbound logic.
An inbound connection represents a remote computer trying to reach a program on your computer to exchange data. For example, when someone calls your Skype # and your computer rings, an inbound connection is established to the Skype program.
An outbound connection represents a program on your computer trying to reach to a remote computer to exchange data. For example, when you visit a Web site with your browser, an outbound connection is established from your browser.
Obviously, inbound connections are more dangerous than outbound connections. Allowing all inbound connections is like leaving your front door wide open to your house.