Setting up firewall Effectively in Windows 7

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The firewall (firewall) built into Windows 7 lets you prevent users or unauthorized software (such as worms) from accessing your computer from a network or the Internet.

Note that protection by a firewall should complement antivirus software. If you do not have one yet installed, you can download free Avast or AntiVir from our repository. They are good free antivirus that will protect you effectively.

By default, the firewall in Windows 7 is activated. Nevertheless, some adjustments may be necessary to ensure maximum safety, depending on where you connect to the Internet at home, at work, in a public place ...

Finally, note that an advanced version of the firewall gives you more precise adjustments to the software accessible from the Internet, but also on those who try to connect from your computer to the Internet. Accessible to power users, this advanced version will be another folder.

Access to the firewall in Windows 7:

An interface allows you to configure the firewall in Windows 7 and display its status. Here's how to access them.

• Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
  
• Select System and click Security.
  
• Then click Windows Firewall.
  
• The new interface shows the status of the firewall network by network. For each network, the settings can be different.

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Allow an application to traverse the firewall:

Because the firewall in Windows Vista or Windows XP you have the option to specifically authorize an application to communicate through the firewall and be accessible from the Internet. Default, Internet communications are stalled for most programs. If you want to unblock a program, you can add to the list of exceptions. For example if you can not send photos with an instant messaging program, you must add the list of exceptions.

• Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
  
  
• Select System and click security.
  
  
• Then click Windows Firewall.
  
  
• Click on the link Allow a program or feature via the Windows Firewall in left column of the window.
  
  
• Check the boxes next to the software that must be accessible from the Internet and uncheck the software are those you do not want to be accessible from the Internet. For added security, make sure to allow the minimum access program from the internet. Uncheck all the boxes for example and if you regularly use software that does not work properly, you only need to check again the box for it to communicate over the Internet.
  
  
• For software accessible from the internet (checked), you can choose to specify the networks on which they are allowed to connect.
  
  
• If the software you want to allow to pass through the firewall to communicate over the Internet is not in the list, click Allow another program.
  
  
• Select the software on your hard disk and click OK.
  
  
• Finally, click OK to save the configuration.
  
  
• When unknown software tries to open a port in firewall to be accessible from the Internet, a warning appears. You can then authorize or not the software to be accessible from the Internet. If in doubt, refuse permission.

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Block all incoming connections:

For each of the networks you are connected (the Internet in your home, office Internet or Internet goes a public network, ...) you can configure how the firewall needs to respond to connection attempts from the Internet to your computer. For a public network, we strongly advise you to block all connections. Your home or office, if you do not use specific software that need to be accessible on the Internet, also block all connections for safety.

• Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
  
  
• Select System and click security.
  
  
• Then click Windows Firewall.
  
  
• Click on the link Enable or disable the Windows Firewall in the left column of the window.
  
  
• The list of network locations is displayed. For each location (public or private) that you want to block all incoming connections, select Block all incoming connections, including the list of programs. Note that the exceptions that you set up to allow software to pass through the firewall will no longer be active.

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Disable Windows Firewall:

If you use another firewall on your computer, that of a security suite for example, it is advisable to disable the firewall of Windows 7 in order to avoid conflicts.

• Click Start, click Control Panel.
  
  
• Select System and click Security.
  
  
• Click on Windows Firewall.
  
  
• Click on the link Enable or disable the Windows Firewall in the left column of the window.
  
  
• Then select the Disable Windows Firewall (not recommended) and click OK.