Windows 8: System Firewall Outbound Rules

Windows Security Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Windows 8: System Firewall Outbound Rules

This section provides a tutorial example on how to review and modify Windows Firewall outbound rules that override the outbound-connection-allowed setting on Windows 8 system.

With Windows Firewall configured with following default settings, you should also review individual override rules on outbound connections.

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

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. Click "Outbound Rules" on the left of the screen. You will see a list of rules that override the "Outbound connections: Allow (default)" global setting.

3. Review all rules. You should skip those with "Action=Allow", because the global default is allow all outbound connections. You should only think about which programs that you want to block them making outbound connections.

For example, my computer comes with 2 outbound rules for "eBay". I don't want run any "eBay" applications on my computer. Now I can add new outbound rule to block it.

The picture below shows you the Windows Firewall outbound rules that override the "Outbound connections: Allow (default)" global setting on Windows 8 system: