Windows 7 Firewall

Since the introduction of the first firewall built into the Windows XP operating system, called back then the Internet Connection Firewall.

Microsoft has steadily improved the firewall in each subsequent incarnation of Windows. From Windows XP SP2, to Windows Vista and now with Windows 7

The BIG firewall improvement in Windows Vista was the ability to monitor BOTH outbound and inbound traffic to the PC.

Windows 7 builds on this success with offering far more control over the Windows Firewall. This is going to make a lot of IT professionals very happy! Me included...

And for the home user, this Firewall is an excellent defence that they can rely on to work in the background for them.

The Improved Windows 7 Firewall Interface

The Firewall in Windows 7 offers a more visually informative interface than that of its predecessor in Windows Vista. The following image shows the Firewall in more detail.

To open the Firewall interface yourself simply go to:

START > Control Panel > View by Large Icon > Windows Firewall

Fig 1.0 - Windows 7 Firewall

[+] Click here for larger image

The basic settings of the Windows 7 Firewall allow you to:

- Turn on the Windows Firewall

- Block all incoming connections, including those in the list of allowed programs

- Notify me when the Windows Firewall blocks a new program

- Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended).

The Windows 7 Advanced Settings

In Windows 7 we are now able to access an advanced settings option that allows us to do many things - including configuration of filtering outbound connections. This is all done through  its Control Panel.

To view/change the advanced settings simply click the "Advanced Settings" link on the left hand side of the main Firewall interface, and click YES to the UAC prompt.

NB - You can also type: Advanced Firewall  into the search box on the start menu.

You should now see the same as in the following screenshot:

Fig 1.1 - Windows 7 Firewall Advanced Settings

[+] Click here for larger image

The Windows 7 Firewall advanced settings offers the IT Pro an awful lot of control - you may even recognise it if you have ever used Windows 2008 Server...

If you Right Click on Windows Firewall with Advanced Features in the left hand pane, then select Properties. The following window will appear. (See Fig 1.2) Form here you can customize the profiles for your PC's connections. Very nice! 

Fig 1.2 - Windows 7 Firewall Advanced Settings "Profiles".

And there you have it.... a quick overview of the Windows 7 Firewall...

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