Knowledgebase

Firewall Settings for Software Use

Problem

How to use the Courseware with a software based computer firewall.

Solution

Firewall Settings for Software Use Windows Firewall Notifications Applications can use Windows Firewall application programming interface (API) function calls to automatically add exceptions. When an application that does not use the Windows Firewall API runs and attempts to listen on TCP or UDP ports, Windows Firewall prompts a local administrator with a Windows Security Alert dialog box, an example of which is shown in the following figure. The user can choose one of the following: Keep Blocking Adds the application to the exceptions list but in a Disabled state so that the ports are not opened. Unsolicited incoming traffic for the application is blocked unless the local administrator specifically enables the exception on the Exceptions tab. By adding the application to the exceptions list, Windows Firewall does not prompt the user every time the application is run. Unblock Adds the application to the exceptions list but in an Enabled state so that the ports are opened.(During startup of the Companion software the current news and events file is downloaded.) Ask Me Later Block unsolicited incoming traffic for the application and do not add it to the exceptions list. The local administrator will be prompted again the next time the application is run. Using the Windows Firewall The settings for ICF in Windows XP with SP1 and Windows XP with no service packs installed consist of a single checkbox (the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box on the Advanced tab of the properties of a connection) and a Settings button from which you can configure excepted traffic, logging settings, and allowed ICMP traffic. Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) includes the new Windows Firewall, which replaces the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). Windows Firewall is a stateful host-based firewall that drops unsolicited incoming traffic that does not correspond to either traffic sent in response to a request of the computer (solicited traffic) or unsolicited traffic that has been specified as allowed (excepted traffic). Windows Firewall provides a level of protection from malicious users and programs that rely on unsolicited incoming traffic to attack computers on a network. Firewall settings are changed in the Control Panel section of the Windows Start Menu.

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