Firewall what are the rules for incoming connections. Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - Diagnosis and Troubleshooting

In addition to the regular Firewall, the operating system has an additional Firewall - Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. Essentially this is the same person. Their only difference is that the first one provides the user with rather limited options for setting up Firewall rules. But these features are more than enough for the main crowd of users, most of whom have never even seen this one. For example, the functionality of a regular Firewall is also perfect. But for more sophisticated users who need more flexible settings for Firewall rules, Windows Firewall with Advanced Security was created.

How to Open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

To do this, you can use one of several methods. I will describe three of them:

1. It’s stupid to type the name of this tool into the search.
2. Follow the path Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Firewall and press the button Extra options.
3. Open the MMC console and add the necessary tool there. Then run it from there.

Many people also ask the question “How to disable the Firewall in Advanced Security Mode.” So, as I already said, these two tools are the same person, only their functionality differs. Therefore, it would be correct to ask the following question: “How to disable Windows Firewall.” And to do this, in the Windows Firewall window you will need the Turn Windows Firewall on or off button.

Features of Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security allows you to create the following rules:

1. Separately configure rules for both incoming and outgoing traffic.
2. Create Firewall rules based on different protocols and ports.
3. Configure rules for data exchange with the network for services. Let me remind you that Windows Firewall only allows you to configure rules for applications.
4. The created rules can only apply to specific IP addresses on the network.
5. It is possible to pass only authorized traffic.
6. Configure connection security rules.

How to create a Firewall rule based on incoming or outgoing traffic?

To create a Firewall rule for incoming traffic only, or for outgoing traffic only, you need to open Windows Firewall in Advanced Security mode. In the window that opens, you will see several nodes in the console tree. The nodes we need are named Rules for incoming connections And Rules for outgoing connection, respectively. When you right-click on one of these nodes, a context menu will appear. We will be interested in the first command with the name Create a rule. After clicking this button, you will be taken to the window for creating a rule, which you must create yourself, based on your desires. Here you will be asked to specify the type of binding of the rule being created, including:

• For the program
• For port
• Predetermined
• Customizable

Creating a rule for a program (application)

You can allow or disable network communication for a specific application if you get to the window where we stopped in the previous paragraph. After which you need to select the item For the program. In the next window you must select either all programs or a specific one.

Create a Firewall Rule for a Port

The process for creating a rule for a port is identical to the process for creating a rule for an application. The only difference is that in this case you need to select the second item with the name For port. This rule allows you to open or close a port for the TCP or UDP protocol. Therefore, in the next window you need to select the protocol and port for which you are going to create a rule.

Activating predefined Windows Firewall rules

Windows already has several dozen rules created by default, which can quite often be applied by both the user and the operating system. To see and activate these rules, you must select the third item - Predetermined. These rules are not activated by default, but they can be activated at any time. These rules will come in handy when the user wants to use some Windows function, for example, or use . To activate these functions, the user will have to perform certain actions (the description of which is not included in this article). When setting up these functions, the operating system will send a signal to the Windows Firewall that it is necessary to activate a package of predefined rules. Which is what will happen. In case of failure, or on personal initiative, the user can do this manually.

Custom Firewall Rules

And finally, the most sophisticated rules: customizable ones. An item with exactly this name must be selected in order to be able to configure a rule for a specific application that will use a specific port, and limit the application of this rule to certain ones. That is, the user will have the most complete access to create rules, which is what Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is famous for.

Allow or deny connections and select network types

The four methods listed above for creating and binding a Firewall rule do not end where I described them. After the steps that will be performed for each of the described methods, you need to select two additional settings:

1. Allow or deny communication for the selected rule type.
2. Select network types() for which the selected rules will apply.

In the first window, you need to either allow traffic completely, allow only secure traffic, or completely block traffic. In the second and last window, you need to check the boxes next to the three types of networks. A check mark next to the network will mean that this rule will be applied in this type of network.

This wonderful functionality is provided to its users by the Windows operating system in the form of an equally excellent tool called Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

The main task of a firewall is to protect network communications from unauthorized access from both outside and inside the computer network. Firewalls come in a variety of types and sizes and are often complex, actually installed on several different computers. Here's the firewall ( firewall ) is one or more devices located between safe( trusted)

internal networks and unsafe( untrusted ) external (such as Internet ), which examine all traffic flowing between networks (see Fig. 1).

Fig.1. Firewall on the network

Firewalls have the following properties:

1. All communication goes through the firewall.
2. The firewall allows only authorized traffic.
3. The firewall is able to resist attacks on itself.

A firewall can be thought of as a buffer between secure and insecure networks. Term firewall( firewall - fire wall) comes from the name of a construction technology that involves the installation of fire-resistant partitions that prevent the spread of fire in the event of a fire. Essentially it's just a barrier. A network firewall is a means of preventing intrusion from other networks.

A firewall can be a router, a personal computer, a host, or a collection of hosts specifically designed to protect a closed network from externally hosted services that could cause harm. Typically, a firewall system is installed at the edge of the internal network, at the point of connection to Internet . However, a firewall can also be located within a network, providing additional, specialized protection to a limited number of hosts.

How you protect a secure network depends on both the design of the firewall and the rules it applies. There are currently four main categories of firewalls:

1. Packet filters.
2. Application level gateways.
3. Link layer gateways.
4. Stateful packet inspection processors.

Like all other software technologies, a firewall has a life cycle during which it is designed, developed, and improved.

A firewall is a specialized tool for solving a specific problem - identifying unauthorized traffic, and its use eliminates the need to seek a compromise between the degree of security and the functionality of the system.

In general, firewalls reduce the risk of unauthorized or unintentional activity on a system (such as hackers). What risks do firewalls protect systems from? Corporate systems and data require protection from the following possible troubles:

Risk of confidentiality violation.
- Risk of data integrity violation.
- Risk of access violation.

Basic types of attacks

Human factor ( socialengineering).

It involves the attacker taking possession of a password or certificate of an administrator or another user who has rights in the system sufficient to access the necessary resources or to perform system operations.

Software errors( softwarebug).

An attacker uses a software flaw to cause an application or service to execute unauthorized or unintended commands. Such attacks are especially dangerous when the application is running with elevated or administrative rights. Similar attacks are possible if buffer overflow( butteroverflow ) And string format errors( formatstringvulnerabilities).

Viruses and/or Trojan horses( Virusesand/orTrojancode).

Involves launching a malicious program to be executed by a legitimate user. Typically, the program for such an attack is disguised as an innocent email message or distributed using a virus. Once launched, such a program is capable of many things; it can not only give access to an outsider, steal files and/or certificates, but also delete system files.

Poor system setup(poor system configuration).

The attacker exploits errors in system configuration: available services and/or accounts. Novice administrators quite often forget (or do not know how) to change the default passwords and accounts (both in the system and at the application level), and also do not restrict access to administrative applications and do not disable extraneous and unused services.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewalls

A firewall is just one piece of security architecture, and like any piece of architecture, it has strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages

• Firewalls excel at enforcing corporate security policies.
• They should be configured to restrict access to management tools, but not to public resources.
• Firewalls allow you to restrict access to certain services.

• • For example, a firewall allows free access to Web -server, but denies access to Telnet and other demons not intended for general use. Most firewalls are capable of providing selective access through authentication functions.

• Firewalls are specialized tools.
• Consequently, there is no need to compromise between the degree of security and functionality.
• Firewalls are excellent auditors.
• With sufficient disk space or the ability to store logs remotely, a firewall can log all (or just specified) traffic passing through it.

• Firewalls are able to notify users of relevant events.

Flaws

• Firewalls cannot protect against permitted content.
• Firewalls protect applications and allow normal communication with those applications (otherwise firewalls would do more harm than good). But if the applications themselves have defects, then firewalls will not fix them and will not be able to prevent the attack, since for the firewall all transmitted information is completely acceptable.
• Firewalls are only as effective as the rules they are designed to enforce.
• A set of overly lax rules will reduce the effectiveness of the firewall.
• Firewalls are powerless against the human factor
• As well as against an authorized user who deliberately uses his rights for malicious purposes.
• Firewalls can neither correct administrative failures nor replace poorly designed security policies.
• Firewalls do not prevent attacks whose traffic does not pass through them.

Fig.2. The relative position of secure and insecure networks relative to the firewall

To consider an example of packet filtering, let's create a set of rules using the following criteria:

• - protocol type;
• - sender's address;
• - address of the recipient;
• - sender port;
• - recipient port;
• - The action the firewall should take when the criterion is met.

To learn everything about firewall settings, you need to understand its functions and purposes. Let’s try to define the concepts of “firewall” and “firewall”, whether they have differences and similarities. Let's look at accessing the network and setting up servers.

What is this?

Before we take a quick look at a firewall, we need to know what a firewall is. It is a conditional program that relates to a computer network. It works with network traffic monitoring and filtering. For this purpose, there is a certain set of rules in the hardware and software.

It is the firewall that is this firewall. The word is translated from German as “fire wall.” Often users cannot differentiate between a firewall and a firewall. This is not surprising, since both the first and second are firewalls. The only difference is that firewall is a German term and firewall is an English term.

Windows version

Starting with the version of Windows XP, the developer introduced a firewall into the operating system. This is how the firewall settings became available. This does not mean that a similar software element did not exist before. A version of Internet Connection Firewall was previously released. But the main advantage of the new product was the presence of control over program access to the network.

Danger

The old firewall was part of the computer system, but was disabled by default due to compatibility issues. The settings for this firewall were available in network configurations, which meant they were difficult for some users to access. Since 2003, there have been a number of computer worm attacks. This was due to a system vulnerability.

In 2004, attacks continued, leading to lightning-fast infections of the system. To fix this, the firewall needed to be modified. This is how Windows Firewall became popular.

New

A security log was built into the new firewall, which collected data on IP addresses and connections across home and business networks, as well as on the Internet. This service has hardly been updated since its release. Therefore, all settings of any parameters are suitable for both old operating systems and new versions.

Now the firewall settings can be made in the Security Center, since this firewall is part of it.

Enable/disable

To make firewall access settings, you need to understand how to enable or disable it. Of course, it is not recommended to disable it, as this will compromise the security of the system. But sometimes disabling is necessary in order to activate the antivirus program.

Most of these programs have a built-in firewall. To avoid compatibility conflicts, the built-in firewall is disabled. If the downloaded antivirus does not have a firewall, then you can leave the Windows version.

To start working with this software and hardware element of the Network, you need to open it. As usual, there are several ways. You can simply enter its name in the search bar of the system. You will have a list of several options. It is better to select "Windows Firewall".

Another option for approaching this service is to go through the “Control Panel”. To do this, click “Start”, find “Control Panel” in the right column, and a window will open. Look at the top right corner where there is a line “View” and select “Large icons” there. A list will appear in front of you, in which you will find a proprietary firewall.

A new window will open where you can make firewall settings. In the left column there will be a line “Disable or enable firewall”. There is a choice for home network and public network. It’s easy to turn off notifications about app blocking right away. You must check the box so that the program will immediately notify you about the malicious utility.

Access blocking

Some problems with accessing the Network are related specifically to the firewall. Perhaps you did not understand how the antivirus program works and have denied access to the network. You can restore it in the firewall settings. Again in the left column, go to the line “allow a program or component to run through a firewall.”

A new window will open in front of you. It will contain a list of programs that have been blocked or allowed access to the Network. You just need to check the boxes where necessary. For example, here you can find a browser that does not go to sites and give it permission to do so.

If you need to allow access to the Network in your firewall settings for a program that is not listed, it is not difficult to do so. It is enough to find the “Allow another program” button under the sign that contains utilities. After which an additional list of applications will appear from which you can add another browser or software that needs access to the Network.

Remember that the more such allowed programs in the firewall, the less secure your work becomes. Ports that are opened are no longer controlled by the system and can allow malicious utilities to pass through.

Advanced

To provide more options for configuring access, you can use additional parameters. In this line you can adjust network profiles. There are three default options:

• Domain Profile is an option for PCs joined to a domain.
• Private - needed as a “bridge” to a private Network, this can be either a home connection or a work one.
• General - needed to connect to the public Network.

Here you can work with rules for connections of different types. You may need to configure the server. The firewall easily handles incoming or outgoing connections. To do this, in the additional parameters you need to select the desired item and click on it, selecting “Create rule”.

A special window will open with several steps. Each one is described in detail. Rules are divided into several types. If a program rule is used, then it is possible to configure access of certain software to the Network. If for a port, then permission or denial occurs for it, a number of ports or a protocol.

You can also choose a predefined or custom rule. Further, the setup is more than clear. Specify the path to the program, select open or closed access. You also configure permission or blocking for a specific type of network. Give your profile a name and the setup is complete.

If you need more fine-grained settings, for example, prohibiting all software from connecting to a designated IP or port, or creating a list of “white” addresses, choose custom rules.

A firewall is software or hardware that prevents hackers and certain types of malware from accessing your computer over a network or the Internet. Its action is to check information received from the Internet or local network and block or allow it to access the computer.

Firewall is not the same as an antivirus or malware protection program. A firewall provides protection against Internet worms and hacker attacks, antivirus programs provide protection against viruses, and anti-malware applications provide protection against malware.

All these types of applications are required on a computer. You can use the Windows Defender antivirus and malware protection software that came with Windows 8 or another antivirus that protects against malicious code.

You only need to install one firewall application on your computer (except your network router's built-in firewall). Using multiple firewall applications on a computer can cause conflicts and problems.

Windows Firewall included in the system by default.

This image shows how a firewall works:

• The firewall is enabled for all network connections.
• The firewall blocks all incoming connections except those that cannot be blocked.
• The firewall is enabled for all types of networks (private, public or domain).

Note: Computers running Windows RT or Windows 8 cannot be joined to a domain. Joining a domain is only supported for computers running Windows 8 Pro or Windows 8 Enterprise.

Turn Windows Firewall on or off

Do not do it turn off Windows Firewall, if no other firewall is enabled. Disabling Windows Firewall may make your computer (and network, if you have one) more vulnerable to attacks from hackers or worms.

Note: If your computer is connected to a network, your network policy settings may prevent you from performing these actions. For more details, contact your administrator.

Windows Firewall Settings

There are four settings you can configure for each network type (public, private, or domain). To find these options, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Firewall.
2. Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.

The following describes what these options do and when to use them:

• Turn on Windows Firewall. This option is selected by default. When Windows Firewall is turned on, most applications are blocked from receiving information. To allow the firewall to accept information, the application must be added to the allowed list by following the steps described in the next section. For example, receiving photos in an instant message may not be possible until the corresponding application is added to the list of allowed applications.
• Block all incoming connections, including applications in the list of allowed programs. Using this setting blocks all unauthorized attempts to connect to your computer. This ensures maximum computer protection, for example, when connecting to a public network (in a hotel or airport). If you block all incoming calls, you can still browse most Web pages, send and receive email, and exchange instant messages.
• Notify, when Windows Firewall blocks a new program. When this checkbox is selected, Windows Firewall will inform you that the application is blocked and give you the option to unblock it.
• Disable Windows Firewall (not recommended). Do not use this option unless another firewall is running on the computer.

Note: If some firewall settings are not available and your computer is joined to a domain, it is possible that your administrator is controlling these settings by using Group Policy.

Permission to receive information through applications

By default, most applications blocked by Windows Firewall to improve your computer's security. However, some applications may require the ability to obtain information through a firewall to function properly.

Before you give an application permission to accept information through a firewall, there are some considerations that need to be taken into account.

Opening a port in Windows Firewall

If Windows Firewall is blocking a program that you want to allow to receive information over the Internet, this is usually done by adding the program to the allowed list, as described in the previous section.

However, if the program is not listed, you may need to open the port through which the program receives data through the firewall. For example, if you plan to use an application to play online multiplayer with friends, you may need to open a port for the application so that the firewall allows game information to be entered into the computer.

Ports remain open all the time, so close those that are not needed.

Includes several security features to keep your computer safe and protect your data from malware and hackers. One such feature is Windows Firewall, which helps prevent unauthorized access to your computer and block potentially malicious applications.

Although the Firewall works smoothly and reliably most of the time, sometimes you may encounter problems. For example, Firewall services may fail to start, or error 80070424 or service error 5 (0x5) may occur. Additionally, sometimes applications or features, such as Remote Assistant, may lose access to shared files and printers due to a system firewall mistakenly blocking them.

If you come across any of these or similar problems, there are several steps you can take. You can use the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter, which is an automated tool that scans and fixes common problems. It is also possible to reset the firewall to default settings and manually manage the network access of applications blocked by the Firewall.

To diagnose and fix Firewall problems, use the following steps:

1. Download the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter from Microsoft.
2. Run the file WindowsFirewall.diagcab by double-clicking on it.
3. Click Next.
4. Depending on the search results, select the option that will fix the problem.
5. If everything worked successfully, click the “Close” button to complete the troubleshooter.

If the tool fails to fix the problem, click the “View more information” link to see detailed information about all the problems it tried to fix, including file and printer sharing, problems with Remote Assistant, and firewall services.

You can then find more information about the issue using search engines or ask for help in the comments below.

If the Windows Firewall troubleshooter fails to detect the problem, it is likely related to a specific setting on the system. In this scenario, you can try to delete the current configuration and return the settings to default.

Important: After restoring settings to default, you may need to reconfigure applications that request network access through the firewall.

To return your firewall settings to default, follow these steps:

1. In the left menu, select the “Restore Defaults” option.
2. Click the “Restore Defaults” button.
3. Click “Yes” to confirm the operation.

Once you complete these steps, the default rules and settings will be restored and all configuration issues will be resolved.

If the problem is that apps are being blocked by mistake, then you can use the following steps to allow apps to access the network.

1. Open Control Panel (press the Windows key and type “Control Panel”).
2. Select “System and Security”.
3. Click on the “Windows Firewall” section.
4. In the left menu, select the option “Allow an app or feature to interact with Windows Firewall.”
5. Select “Change Settings” using your device administrator account.
6. Select the app or service you want to allow.
7. Select the network type “Private” if the application must access only the local network or “Public” if the application must communicate with the Internet.
8. Click OK.

Advice: If the apps or feature are not shown in the list, then click the “Allow another app” button to add it to the list.

You can use these instructions to reconfigure applications after restoring Windows Firewall to default settings.

Although we used Windows 10 in this example, you can use these same instructions to troubleshoot firewall issues in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

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