In addition to the security settings available in the Action Center, you can prevent malicious attacks on your system with the Windows Firewall utility, as shown in the figure. A firewall implements a security policy by selectively permitting and denying data traffic to a computer. A firewall gets its name from a brick and mortar firewall designed to prevent fire from spreading from one part of a building to another.
You can configure firewall settings for home networks, work networks, and public networks. Further changes can be made by using the following options:
- Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall - Determine which programs can communicate through the Windows Firewall.
- Change notification settings - Users with administrative privileges canmanage notifications from the Windows Firewall.
- Turn Windows Firewall on or off - Users with administrative privileges can turn the Windows Firewall on or off.
- Restore defaults - Users with administrative privileges canrestore the Windows Firewall to the default settings.
- Advanced settings - Users with administrative privileges can adjust advanced security settings.
Access the Windows Firewall utility, in Windows 7, use the following path:
Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall