Discover the second firewall (hidden) in Vista

Windows Vista has two firewalls: the standard firewall (from XP SP2 and accessible from the Security Center or Control Panel) and a firewall with advanced security.

The standard firewall is similar to Windows XP. Many accuse it of being that "inbound", ie not block the attacks from outside. For Microsoft, a firewall "outbound" (which filters that sort) is too complex for users, and is also generally too easily pierced by the techniques known as "trojans leak. It is true that, faced with an already infected machine, a firewall is not the most effective weapon! That is the argument that Microsoft uses to justify the standard in Windows Vista Defender.

However, Vista hides a second firewall, much more powerful, efficient, and just ... to both "inbound and outbound"! Both firewalls are different and distinct, although the setting of one reflects on the other. The second firewall is designed for administrators. By default it is set in the image of standard firewall: to stop everything that comes from the outside and let everything that comes from the PC. And operation reminiscent of the standard firewall. If you activate the filter and "outbound" everything will be closed and traffic will create rules for opening every need. But beware, this firewall is not public. Applications that try out do not trigger alerts configurable. They are blocked, and that's it.

The firewall is configured via the administration interface MMC. To get there, the easiest way is still to open the Start menu and search for "Firewall": you will appear the "Windows Firewall with advanced security."