Windows OS is equipped with its own protection system, which is based on the work of the “Firewall” or system firewall. This system blocks unwanted applications that, in its opinion, are potential carriers harmful viruses or spy modules. To avoid blocking the desired software and to achieve effective operation of all installed ones, sometimes it is necessary to deactivate such protection. This article discusses ways to disable it in the most popular versions of Windows OS (7, 8, 10).
Windows 7
The algorithm of actions is very simple:
- Once all the described steps have been completed, the control window for our defender should turn red. The system tray will display a pop-up message to deactivate the firewall.
But it is worth noting that when the firewall itself is turned off, the service responsible for its operation continues to function. Interfering with this service may cause network problems. Therefore, all the actions described in the following can be performed at your own risk, or require the intervention of a professional.
- Next, the computer will prompt you to reboot the system, to which you must agree.
- After reboot the service will be disabled.
Windows 8
For this version of the operating system, the only change in the action algorithm is that you need to enter the firewall management window through the “Control Panel”. Login is carried out by pressing the combination “Win” + “I” and selecting the line “Control Panel” in the list that appears. Next, you need to select the icon corresponding to the firewall, but if all the icons in the window that opens are divided into categories, then you need to top corner window change the viewing option to “Large icons”.
Disable on Windows 10
In this version of the operating system, all actions are repeated similarly to the two previous methods, despite the fact that the “Control Panel” can again be opened through the Start menu, as in Windows 7. There is also an additional way to disable it via the command line, but it is not more or less effective , but requires the ability to use the specified service. Therefore, it is more advisable to disconnect using the method already described above.
From the above, it becomes clear that disabling the protection system is not difficult, but it is most advisable to think about your decision in advance, since very often it is the work of the system firewall that saves unprepared users from various types of malicious manifestations in operating system which lead to problems. Also, you should not take any action if the shutdown attempt fails. It is best to contact professionals who can restore the device to working condition and also explain errors in the actions taken.
Video by OS version.
Windows 8 is no longer the newest operating system, and many have managed to study it inside and out. Quite a lot of attention in the G8 is paid to protection against viruses and spyware, and this is good, but sometimes it creates various difficulties for users. Therefore, now let's talk about how to disable the Windows 8 Firewall.
Why is it necessary to disable protection?
As you know, a Firewall is a built-in protection system that can open or close ports for certain programs (or games) that require access to the Internet. Disabling this system can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is not recommended to completely remove it.
Why might a shutdown be necessary? For example, if a game cannot access the network because the standard Firewall has closed the required port. However, in this case, you can simply add the program or game to exceptions or manually. To add a program to the exclusion list, you need to open the control panel: in the search bar we write “Firewall” (without quotes, of course). We open the item we need.
All you have to do is find it in the list the desired program or a game and check the boxes next to it in the “Home or work (private)” and “Public” columns.
If you do not find the utility you need in the list, then click the “Allow another program” button. A window will open in which all the software installed on the PC will be displayed. Find the utility you need and add it to the exceptions.
Sometimes a conflict arises when standard OS protection completely blocks access to the global network. In this case, exceptions will not help. But before you disable the Firewall completely, you should diagnose and troubleshoot your network.
Again, open “Firewall” and select “Troubleshoot network problems” from the menu on the left.
Next, carefully read all the information on the screen and select the items you need. It is worth noting that such diagnostics do not always help, and in rare cases there is nothing left but to disable the Windows 8 Firewall completely. Moreover, if you have installed antivirus software from third party developers(Dr. Weber, Avast, Kaspersky, and so on), then the built-in protection of Windows 8 must be removed, since a conflict arises between firewalls (each perceives the other as a virus), due to which access to the Internet can be completely closed. So we come to the main question: how to disable the built-in Firewall in Windows 8.
Disabling built-in protection
In order to remove the built-in Firewall, open the Windows Firewall (we already know how to do this). Now in the menu on the left we find the item “Turn on and off...”. Let's open it.
There is no need to restart your PC. Now you know how to disable the Firewall on Windows 8. To enable it, follow the same steps, only set the checkboxes to the “Enable protection...” position.
Let me remind you once again that it is not recommended to disable the Firewall, as this makes the computer completely defenseless against malware, viruses and spyware.
How to disable Windows 8 firewall: Video
A firewall is software or hardware that prevents hackers and certain types of malware receive to a computer via a network or the Internet. Its action is to verify information received from the Internet or local network, and blocking or allowing them 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 software antivirus protection and protection against malicious code Windows Defender, which is included with the Windows 8 system 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 with operating system Windows system 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. To get more detailed information, 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:
- Open Windows Firewall.
- 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 and send and receive messages Email, and also 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.
Since the development of the global Internet and the emergence of virus programs, Microsoft has different versions operating systems has developed an integrated firewall called the Windows Firewall. It's no secret that this program allows you to protect your computer from malware. But sometimes it simply interferes with the Internet and creates additional load on the processor, so many users are wondering how to disable the Windows Firewall.
8 Basic Functions Performed by a Firewall
How Windows Firewall works
On this moment The firewall is included in any operating system by default, so there is no need to install this add-on. And when installing another firewall, there is a possibility that their operation will conflict. Do not confuse a firewall with an antivirus program. Their main difference is that the Windows firewall protects your computer from malicious worms and hacker attacks, while antiviruses block virus programs from entering your technical device.
Turn on the firewall on your computer and select its settings
Regardless of the type of network on your computer, be it private, domain or public, you can choose 4 types of this firewall. Options Windows Firewall It’s quite easy to set up, you just need to carry out a few steps. Namely:
Find and launch Windows Firewall.
In the list of settings, select one of 4 options and enable it.
Below we describe in what cases to use one or another type.
Enable Windows Firewall. This option works by default; you will have to add the application to the list of allowed ones or disable the program. Otherwise, the Windows 8, 7, XP and others firewall will simply block receiving information through applications.
Inform when the firewall denies access new program. If this parameter active, you will always receive messages about prohibiting unauthorized programs with the ability to unblock them.
Block incoming connections. Selecting this option completely blocks application access and attempts to make any unauthorized connections. Accordingly, your computer will be completely safe when connected to a public network. But this does not mean that web pages are blocked. You, as before, will work on the global Internet, send and receive messages via social network or by email.
Deactivating the firewall
It happens that the firewall interferes with the installation of a new program, so it is possible to disable it. And if another firewall is running on your computer, it is recommended to disable the firewall so as not to create a conflict between their work. To disable, you will need to open the firewall, go to its settings and select the non-recommended disabling.
Windows Firewall: Exceptions
Some programs that are important for the user’s work often exchange information with the global network, but integrated software only interferes with their work. To eradicate this, the firewall provides a special function - exceptions. Windows Firewall allows the actions of the added program to pass through and no longer blocks the attempt installed programs accept external changes, coming from the Internet.
Adding programs and ports to firewall exceptions
To add a program to exceptions, follow these simple steps:
First, you need to log in to the system with administrator rights. This way you will have more options.
Next, go to the “Start” menu and either find the command line in it and enter Firewall.cpl, which will open the desired window, or, if you have never worked with it, you can go to “Control Panel” -> “System and Security” -> “Windows Firewall”.
In the “Exceptions” tab, click the add program button. In Windows 7 there is no such bookmark; it looks like a link with the name permission to launch components and programs.
A few words on setting up Firewall
Some websites advise disabling built-in software such as the Windows 8, 7 or other firewall, explaining this as an additional load on the system or poor protection. But would webmasters create such additional program for safety, if it were absolutely not necessary? You may not have thought about the fact that nowadays there are quite a lot of attackers who are not averse to taking over your passwords for mail, e-wallet and other personal documents stored on your computer. This is why it is important to keep your firewall running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For home use quite suitable standard settings firewall. If similar software was additionally installed on your computer, it is best to disable one of them so that there is no conflict between their operation.
Windows 8 Firewall and its deactivation
Many inexperienced PC users who have installed the updated version 8 operating system on their device are wondering whether to deactivate the firewall. How to disable the Windows 8 firewall temporarily or permanently? It should be noted that this software is noticeably different from its predecessors. All software is hidden and can be difficult to find.
Temporary shutdown involves a series of actions taken. To get to the settings section, press the Windows key combination + I. This will bring up a menu with a control panel. After switching to it, from the existing shortcuts you need to select “System and Security”. Next, in the new window that opens, click on the “Windows 8 Firewall” section. To partially disable it, just click on the left side of the window to enable/disable the firewall and confirm this command by clicking on the “Ok” button.
To completely deactivate the program, you will need to remove it from autorun. To do this, press the Windows + R key combination to open the command line and enter services.msc in it. In the window that opens, select the item for the firewall we need and go to the “General” section, where we disable its autorun. After clicking the “Ok” button, all changes take effect.
Windows 7 Firewall
Activating and configuring a firewall on the Windows 8 operating system is very different from its predecessor 7. But even on it, some users do not know how to enable the Windows 7 firewall. But it is so necessary to protect the computer from intruders.
In order to enter the settings window, follow the following path: “Start” -> “Control Panel” -> “System and Security” -> “Windows Firewall”. And then everything is simple! A new window opens in which you need to select options to enable the firewall if it is deactivated. On the left of the window there is an item about changing notification settings, where the basic settings are selected. After making changes, all that remains is to click on the “Ok” button. After these steps, you don’t even need to restart your computer; all changes will immediately take effect.
The deactivation process is just as simple. You can simply look at how to enable the Windows 7 firewall. Then do the same steps, but instead of activating, select another option. Namely: “Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended).” Of course, if you are 100% sure that this is necessary.
Windows XP Firewall: activation, settings, deactivation
The firewall on the XP operating system is no different in functionality from the above, and its settings may seem a little simpler to some.
To ensure that there are no problems when working with your computer and the global Internet, you should correctly configure your firewall settings. Go to the Start panel, go to Control Panel. There are many integrated components installed in Windows, including the firewall. Once the new window opens, you will see three tabs: General, Exceptions, and Advanced. IN general settings you can enable or disable the firewall. In addition, if you are connected to a public network, you can check the box next to disable added exceptions. This way, your computer will not be at risk of infection by worms or attack by intruders.
In the exceptions tab, the settings are quite simple. There are buttons for adding ports, programs, changing and deleting them. In the scrolling window you can see the added programs, next to which you should check the box and click on the “OK” button to save changes.
In the “Advanced” tab, you should check whether the option to connect to a virtual private network is selected; if not, then you need to check the box next to it, and also go to the ICMP protocol parameters and select the following items: incoming request permissions, echo, mask, router, and also redirect permissions. After these steps, all that remains is to save the changes by pressing the “Ok” button. Your Windows XP firewall is now configured.
Common firewall problems and solutions in Windows XP
Most often, users encounter difficulties when setting settings. In this case, it turns out that the user is not logged into the system with administrator rights, and therefore has limited access. Sometimes shared access to folders and connected printers disappears, and network computers are not displayed. To solve this problem, you will have to add the folder to the firewall exceptions public access to printers and files. And when the firewall cannot start, the system displays a message stating that Windows Firewall was unable to change some settings. Restarting your computer should fix this error.
Setting up Firewall using the command line
If you are sure that a firewall does not guarantee adequate security for your device, then you are mistaken about this. At correct setting The firewall settings will not interfere with your work, but will take care of unintentional attacks from hackers, virus worms and other unauthorized external activities.
There is another more advanced installation method: using the command line. Using the Set Logging command, you can learn more about the operation of the OS-integrated firewall.
Before deliberately disabling your firewall, be sure to install a good antivirus program, which will protect your device from malicious actions from the outside.
If you can work at home standard settings firewall, then when connecting to a public network, enable exclusions. This action will further secure your computer. And most importantly, you will have no doubts about the security of your passwords for your e-wallet, mail, and important business information. Do not rush to make erroneous conclusions about the operation of the software; if some problem arises, try to solve it without deactivating the firewall.
Setting up the Windows 8 firewall, how to enable/disable the firewall, how to disable it using the firewall specific program Internet access, how to add an exception, additional settings Windows Firewall. Unlike what was described in another article, the Windows firewall is not as simple as it might seem at first glance, and there are a huge number of different configuration options hidden under its hood.
The main Windows 8 Firewall window doesn't offer many features. It just gives information about the network to which you are currently connected and shows the current state of the firewall in relation to this network.
However, even in the main firewall window there are many additional options. You can access them in the menu on the left. Let's try to talk about each of them in turn. The first option - allowing interactions with a component or application in the Windows Firewall - allows you to unblock a previously blocked program (perhaps it was blocked due to suspicious activity or you accidentally blocked it yourself).
But keep in mind that it is so easy to allow applications to exchange Windows data 8 won't allow it. First you will have to click the " Change settings", which will confirm to Windows your desire for these changes. This protection prevents malware from automatically entering, even if you accidentally allowed installation via UAC.
If the program or application does not appear in the list, you can click the " Allow another application» and find it manually.
Advice. If you are having problems with your firewall, click on the " Restore Defaults", and reset its settings to the default configuration.
Block programs from accessing the Internet in the firewall.
Click the “Change settings” button in the upper right corner of the window and allow or block the program or application from accessing the Internet through the firewall. To do this, check or uncheck the network parameters of this program: private (for example, at home, at work) and public (cafes, libraries). You may need to set these parameters individually, for example, you have a file synchronization program (SkyDrive or Dropbox) that needs to be blocked when connecting to public networks; you don’t want your transferred files, someone could have intercepted it.
As mentioned above, if you don’t see the program you need in this list, add it manually. After clicking on the “Allow another application” button, a new window will appear with full list yours installed applications and programs. In principle, it should not differ from the main list of allowed applications, but there may be changes, it depends on whether you have installed user programs.
To add any desktop software not included in this list, click the " Review" When you select the program you want to add, click the " Network types"(public and private) networks to which you want to allow the program to connect, and finish adding by clicking the " Add».
Enable/Disable Windows 8 Firewall.
In the main Windows Firewall window, you can change notification settings and enable/disable Windows Firewall. Both links lead to the same place.
While you can disable the firewall on private networks, leave it running on public networks. Why might this be needed? Let's say you're a gamer and the firewall is preventing you from online games at home, or an office worker whose IT department requires Windows Firewall to be turned off because it is conflicting with something on the computer.
But on a laptop, if you are away from home, it is still recommended to have firewall protection enabled. So leave the firewall enabled for public networks and disabled for private ones.
Windows Firewall Enhanced Security Mode.
There is also a checkbox that blocks all incoming connections, which provides increased security, especially on public networks, but by checking it you may find that some programs or applications have stopped working because they need this function. So, if some application suddenly stops working adequately, check your firewall settings.
The next item resets Windows Firewall settings to default values. This option is very useful, especially if you changed something and don't remember what it was.
Additional firewall settings.
In the main firewall window, click the option " Extra options "and go to another window in which you can set specific rules for incoming and outgoing traffic; and also perform other operations, such as opening and blocking connection ports.
Main area, in the center open window, displays the current state of the firewall, but it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the two side panels. The panel on the left side displays a tree showing the various firewall parameters: inbound and outbound rules, connection security rules, and firewall monitoring. WITH right side contains controls, including options for creating and managing firewall rules.
To create a new firewall, click in the left panel on any of the items: rules for incoming/outgoing connections or security rules, and in the right panel click the button " New rule" A window will open in front of you “ Wizards for creating a new rule».
Rules for outgoing/incoming connections will allow you to control and set rules for individual programs. To create a new rule for a program, or allow/block a port on your computer, click on the desired item in the right panel.
Opening and blocking ports is important for certain applications, such as gaming and file sharing, where typically unused communication ports are blocked by firewalls by default.
Here you can set whether some programs or ports will work only if secure connection to the data.
If you use your computer for any sensitive industry: security, business, scientific research, etc., you may need to allow applications to send and receive data only when connected to a secure, encrypted network. Here you can specify specific programs or applications to work only in these conditions.
To ensure connection security, even if you connect to your company via a virtual private network (VPN), you may be prompted to set specific connection security rules. This is done in the connection security rule section, where the type of connection is indicated (there is a description) and the type of authentication required for the connection.
When you set up, you will likely need certain input parameters that your company or organization will provide to you.
One of the most useful functions– creating a custom connection rule, according to which you can configure a connection between two or more specific computers with specific IP addresses, with or without encryption and authentication.
If you have a closed connection in your office and you only need to connect to certain computers, for example to be able to connect and check their operation, here you can set their IP addresses. However, do not forget that you need to create rules for both incoming and outgoing connections.
Note. If you allow your computer to connect to other computers, make sure they have static IP addresses in your router.