Dugg: Tame the Beast of Vista's Firewall
Let everyone else know about Lifehacker and this awesome piece of advice I will use when I convert to Vista.

easy2panic

Wow, does anyone actually use the windows firewall? Seems pretty pointless if you have to turn it off. I'd recommend a hardware one, along with vigilant updates on windows.

dognose

@dognose: Does anyone actuall use the windows firewall?

Yea, I still use the windows firewall on Vista. Although, if I ever need more control than the standard control panel gives me, I can go Administrative Tools > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. Using this I have never had a conflict with the firewall that I couldn't resolve.

Also, having a laptop and taking it places isn't always practicle for a hardware firewall. However, if I was to use one on my home network, which one would you recommend?

thecodingeye

I used to recommend Zone Alarm Firewall, but about a year ago it was a resource hog, it might be different now, I'll have to check it out. Currently I'm using Comodo Firewall.

easy2panic

Last year I picked up a $20 router at Newegg to use as a NAT firewall. No software, no resources, no worries.

OX4

@easy2panic: I used Zone Alarm Firewall five or so years ago. Never will use it again. When I went to uninstall it, it crashed the whole system. This happened not only once but twice.

thecodingeye

I use the Windows firewall when I travel. The shortcuts will make it very convenient.

adiosjefe

Why would you turn the firewall off instead of just setting rules to allow ports you'd need? When friend's are coming over to the apartment, we don't ask everyone in the building to unlock their doors.

GilbertErik

Everyone should think carefully before using this tip. The Windows Firewall is an important part of protecting the user's privacy and identity. If an application can't be configured to work with the Windows Firewall on, take some time to consider whether using that application is worth the risk of turning the Firewall off.

- Edward

UiucEdward

@UiucEdward: That's a good point. I added a disclaimer to the article to recommend turning the firewall back on after one is done troubleshooting.

I often use these shortcuts as a way to quickly eliminate the Firewall as the possible cause while troubleshooting problems. Turn it off, test, no change?, re-enable it.

The How-To Geek

@GilbertErik: Agreed.......but since I seem to get along with all my neighbors who happened to be all chicks (I tend to announce for them to unlock their doors) so I can swing by l8r for a quick cocktail... ya know... :-)

mr_oshodi

If you are turning off your host-based firewall so often that you need a shortcut to do so, something is fundamentally wrong with your security practices.

robdew

I haven't found a single app that doesn't work with the Vista firewall.

Slaughter

I agree with all the comments saying that this is a potentially bad idea. I wouldn't want to be making this recommendation to the mums and dads out there. "If programs aren't working, lets disable security features until the programs work" !?

xntrik

@OX4: It is important to have a host based firewall on top of the protection offered by your router's packet filter and NAT. Say if you get a rogue program that transmits data to a server on port 80, the simple packet filter isn't going to stop that, but one that is application aware (eg. Vista's firewall/ZoneAlarm etc) would since it isn't in your white list.

Mythokia

Firewalls are only needed for inexperienced users and people who can't stick to "safe" websites. My desktop has never had a firewall. I have better things to do with system resources.

slaughter33

@slaughter33: Woah, there. Replace every instance of "firewall" in your post with "antivirus", and I'd agree with you. A firewall is meant to protect you from incoming intrusions. That means you don't have to go to any particular website or click the attachment in an e-mail to get a worm. By simply being online and nothing more, you are open to attacks if you're not running a firewall. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need firewalls because all software would be bug free (both OS'es and 3rd party apps) and users would be free from error as well (wisely managing their security with strong passwords). I don't live in a perfect world though, so I use a firewall, and I suggest to everyone else who doesn't live in a perfect world. If you've been operating without a firewall all this time, then I'd have to assume you've been behind a router. As someone earlier pointed out, all routers do NAT, which acts as a firewall. In this case the firewall on your computer is redundant and unnecessary. Nonetheless, its important to know the distinction before you go around giving out sage advice to others. And while I'm on the topic of giving out advice, I think that the original topic of turning off and on the firewall is NOT a topic for public consumption. For most users, turning off and on the firewall is something only their technical support should guide them through. I realize that a little disclaimer was added to the original article to remind users to turn their firewall back on, but i still feel the whole article is just too inviting... inviting to inexperienced fearless "clickers", and inviting to danger. Personally, I'd have opted for bright red 36 point text that read "do not attempt this unless you are absolutely sure you know what you are doing".

HayesPhoogle