- Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
- Local Security Policy
- Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
Although Windows Vista has an interface for controlling the firewall within the Control Panel, there is a more in-depth interface that can be added to a MMC. Inbound and outbound port protection can be configured, and customized rules can be created in order to secure the computer, yet allow the desired programs to communicate outside the computer. This allows a user to further filter traffic to his or her heart’s delight.
The following screencast demonstrates how to open and close various ports and how to create a basic rule within the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
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To access the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, open an MMC, then click File > Add/Remove Snap-in. Next, select Windows Firewall and add it to the list. Finally, click OK to add the snap-in.
To access the standard Windows Firewall, click Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Windows Firewall. If you have the Control Panel set to Classic mode, the Windows Firewall applet should be directly within the Control Panel.