Tip #4041 - Windows Vista Firewall
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Q:
Is there anything you can tell me about the Windows Vista Firewall? I
just started using Vista and I'd like to use its firewall too, but I'm
not sure how to access it or how to set it up right. Please help me!
A:
Excellent question! This is one that will surely help all you Windows
Vista users out there. If you're fairly new to the Vista operating system,
you might not even know about the firewall that comes with it. Of course,
if you know anything about Windows at all, you know that previous versions
have always come with a firewall, so it should come as no surprise that
Vista is equipped with one too. Now, just in case you're not sure what
a firewall is for, allow me to start with an explanation of that.
A firewall's main
purpose is to protect your computer from the outside world of viruses,
spyware and other types of awful malware. It's put in place to block all
the "bad" stuff from your computer. (We have several tips on
firewalls in our archives, so if you're interested in learning more about
them, you can always go and do a keyword search for them there). Along
with having a firewall on your computer, you should also have an antivirus
program and maybe even an anti-spyware application as well. Those programs
and your firewall can then work together to keep your computer completely
protected.
Now, you can get a
firewall from other sources, but Microsoft makes it much more convenient
by already including one with the Vista operating system. In order to
use the Vista Firewall to its best ability, you need to make sure it is
set up correctly. Once you do that, you'll be well on your way to full
protection. So, without further ado, let's get your firewall up and running!
First, go to Start,
Control Panel and click on the option that says "Check
This Computer's Security Status." That will then bring up
the Windows Security Center. The Vista Firewall is the first choice you'll
see in that list. Check to make sure the firewall is set to On.
If it's in the Off position, just click on the Windows
Firewall link and then go to Change Settings.
From there, select the On option and then press OK.
Alright, you now have
your firewall turned on, which is the most important thing! Now, as things
stand right now, the firewall is blocking all of your programs, which
I'm sure is not the way you want to keep things. So, the next thing you'll
want to do is create some exceptions for the programs you want to allow
through to your network. These can include any of the applications you
use on a regular basis or any Web sites, etc. you like to visit when you're
connected to the Internet. Here's how you can create the exceptions you
want.
There are actually
two good ways you can do this. First, whenever the Vista Firewall blocks
one of your programs, Web sites, etc., you can just hit the Unblock
option from the pop up menu. Second, you can go to the Exceptions
tab in the Vista Firewall dialogue box and set up a program exception
from there. The easiest way to do this is to just let the program ask
you what you want to do with it, but there may be times when you'll need
to go in and manually make some exceptions yourself.
So, if that ever happens
to you, here's some more detail on how to get that done. Go to Start,
Control Panel and then choose the Security
section. From there, click on the option that says "Allow
a program through Windows Firewall." Next, click on the
Exceptions tab and then the Add Program button.
Once that window comes up, select the program you want to allow. You can
click on the Browse button to search through them if
you need to as well. Once you have the program selected, click Change
Scope and then choose the settings you'd like to have for that
particular program. You can then go and make exceptions for your other
programs if you need to as well.
There's the basics
for you! Now, there's always been some debate about how secure the Windows
Firewall really is and of course, there are other firewall programs you
can use to protect your computer, but if you're just getting started with
Vista, this firewall will do just fine. It will at least get you up and
going and once you learn more about the different firewalls that are available,
you can make your decision from there. Either way you go, just make sure
you do have a firewall enabled on your computer. It's there to protect
you and you can't argue with that. Check it out!
~ Erin
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