Use the Internet Connection Firewall
A firewall is a
security system that acts as a protective boundary between a network and
the outside world. Windows XP includes Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)
software you can use to restrict what information is communicated between
the Internet and your home or small office network. ICF also protects a
single computer connected to the Internet with a cable modem, a DSL modem,
or a dial–up modem.
Note:
If you are running Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) your firewall is turned
on automatically. To learn more see,
Understanding Windows Firewall.www.tartoos.com
If your network
uses Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to provide Internet access to
multiple computers, you should use ICF on the shared Internet connection.
However, ICS and ICF can be enabled separately. You should not enable the
firewall on any connection that does not directly connect to the Internet.
ICF is not needed if you already have a firewall or proxy server on your
network in your home or office.
You must be
logged on to your computer with an administrator account in order to
enable the firewall.
You should not
enable Internet Connection Firewall on virtual private networking (VPN)
connections, which are typically used to securely log in to a corporate
network. You should not enable ICF on client computers that are part of a
large company or school network with a server-client structure. ICF will
interfere with file and printer sharing in these scenarioswww.tartoos.com
If you are sharing an Internet connection, enable
the firewall only on the host computer that is connected to the Internet.
The host computer appears to the Internet as the only computer on the
Internet, hiding the computers in your home network. The host computer
with ICF enabled provides a single point of security for your host
computer and home network computers. In such home networks, computers
running earlier versions of Windows are protected without the need for
additional firewalls. See the illustrations in this
Home Networking and the Internet article to help
you understand where ICF should be enabled on your home network.www.tartoos.com
Some Internet service providers (ISPs) do not allow the use of the Windows
XP ICF. If this is the case, you should contact your ISP for their
recommended security measures.www.tartoos.com
To enable or disable Internet Connection Firewall
1 -
Open
Network Connections (Click Start, click Control Panel, and
then double–click Network Connections as shown in Figure 1 below.)
Figure 1. Open Control Panel, then open Network Connections.
Note
If your Control Panel is set to Category View, click Network and
Internet Connections as show in Figure 2 below. Then click Network
Connections as show in Figure 3.www.tartoos.com
Figure 2. In Category View, click Network and Internet Connections.
2 -
Click
to select the Dial–up, LAN or High–Speed Internet connection that you want
to protect as shown in Figure 4 below.
Figure 4. Click on the connection that you want to protect.
3 -
In the
task pane on the left, under Network Tasks, click Change
settings of this connection as shown in Figure 5 below.
(Or, within the Network Connections folder, right-click on the connection
that you want to protect and then click Properties as shown in
Figure 6 below.)
www.tartoos.com
Figure 5. Under Network Tasks on the left, click Change settings of
this connection.
Figure 6. Alternatively, right-click on the connection, and click
Properties.
4 -
On the
Advanced tab as shown in Figure 7 below, under Internet
Connection Firewall, select one of the following:
* To enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF),
select the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing
access to this computer from the Internet check box.
*
To
disable Internet Connection Firewall, clear the Protect my computer and
network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the
Internet check box. This disables the firewall, your computer and
network are then vulnerable to intrusions.www.tartoos.com
 Figure
7. Check the box to enable the firewall.
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