The built in Vista firewall seems to be more capable than it appears.

Hi,

I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:

http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html

After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
something that looks like full fledged software one.

Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
above more than just a user interface for what's already there?

//ceed

Start - type WF.msc into the search box then CLICK on it
this starts the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

"ceed" <> wrote in message news: ups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
> searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>
> http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>
> After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
> connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
> the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
> past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
> isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
> firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
> someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
> something that looks like full fledged software one.
>
> Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
> above more than just a user interface for what's already there?
>
> //ceed
>

Do a start menu search for "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security". This
section is filled with tons of options.

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org

"ceed" <> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
> searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>
> http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>
> After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
> connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
> the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
> past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
> isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
> firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
> someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
> something that looks like full fledged software one.
>
> Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
> above more than just a user interface for what's already there?
>
> //ceed
>

On Aug 25, 10:55 pm, "Robert Firth" <webmas...@winvistainfo.org>
wrote:
> Do a start menu search for "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security". This
> section is filled with tons of options.
>
> Robert Firthhttp://www.winvistainfo.org
>
> "ceed" <ceed.spamea...@dysthe.net> wrote in message
>
> news: ups.com...
>
>
>
> > Hi,
>
> > I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
> > searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>
> >http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>
> > After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
> > connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
> > the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
> > past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
> > isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
> > firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
> > someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
> > something that looks like full fledged software one.
>
> > Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
> > above more than just a user interface for what's already there?
>
> > //ceed- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

But why is it hidden like that? I mean, it's not even indicated that
this stuff exist in the firewall interface in Control Panel. Another
way to protect users from themselves, or?

Well, this Vista Firewall Control interface is simple to use. I wish
Vista would come with something like that since the firewall obviously
is quite capable!

//ceed

//ceed

There are *.msc programs in XP as well that you run from the command prompt.
These are mostly for admin functions and most users dont know that they are
there.

"ceed" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> On Aug 25, 10:55 pm, "Robert Firth" <webmas...@winvistainfo.org>
> wrote:
>> Do a start menu search for "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security".
>> This
>> section is filled with tons of options.
>>
>> Robert Firthhttp://www.winvistainfo.org
>>
>> "ceed" <ceed.spamea...@dysthe.net> wrote in message
>>
>> news: ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hi,
>>
>> > I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
>> > searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>>
>> >http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>>
>> > After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
>> > connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
>> > the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
>> > past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
>> > isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
>> > firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
>> > someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
>> > something that looks like full fledged software one.
>>
>> > Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
>> > above more than just a user interface for what's already there?
>>
>> > //ceed- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> But why is it hidden like that? I mean, it's not even indicated that
> this stuff exist in the firewall interface in Control Panel. Another
> way to protect users from themselves, or?
>
> Well, this Vista Firewall Control interface is simple to use. I wish
> Vista would come with something like that since the firewall obviously
> is quite capable!
>
> //ceed
>
> //ceed
>

"ceed" <> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
> searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>
> http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>
> After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
> connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
> the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
> past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
> isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
> firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
> someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
> something that looks like full fledged software one.
>
> Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
> above more than just a user interface for what's already there?

I use the Vista FW myself. The snake-oil you talk about, which is in other
3rd party packet filters/personal FW(s) as well, should be hidden deep
because people lean on it like a crutch, and it gives them a false sense of
security, trying to protect he or she from his or herself that it cannot do.

On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 07:37:27 -0400, "Mr. Arnold" <MR.
> wrote:

>
>"ceed" <> wrote in message
>news: oups.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
>> searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>>
>> http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>>
>> After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
>> connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
>> the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
>> past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
>> isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
>> firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
>> someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
>> something that looks like full fledged software one.
>>
>> Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
>> above more than just a user interface for what's already there?
>
>I use the Vista FW myself. The snake-oil you talk about, which is in other
>3rd party packet filters/personal FW(s) as well, should be hidden deep
>because people lean on it like a crutch, and it gives them a false sense of
>security, trying to protect he or she from his or herself that it cannot do.

Good advice Mr. Troll. Just tell us who protects you from yourself?
Mr. Psychologist?

Adam Albright wrote:
> On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 07:37:27 -0400, "Mr. Arnold" <MR.
> > wrote:
>
>> "ceed" <> wrote in message
>> news: ups.com...
>> security, trying to protect he or she from his or herself that it cannot do.
>
> Good advice Mr. Troll. Just tell us who protects you from yourself?
> Mr. Psychologist?

<Oh my God, that's funny, you have got a lot nerve old man calling
someone a troll you slobbering at the mouth old flame-boy that's been
molesting people for decades. BTW, you got any suggestion other than
your troll lip server here? >

"ceed" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> On Aug 25, 10:55 pm, "Robert Firth" <webmas...@winvistainfo.org>
> wrote:
>> Do a start menu search for "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security".
>> This
>> section is filled with tons of options.
>>
>> Robert Firthhttp://www.winvistainfo.org
>>
>> "ceed" <ceed.spamea...@dysthe.net> wrote in message
>>
>> news: ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hi,
>>
>> > I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
>> > searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>>
>> >http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>>
>> > After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
>> > connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
>> > the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
>> > past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
>> > isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
>> > firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
>> > someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
>> > something that looks like full fledged software one.
>>
>> > Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
>> > above more than just a user interface for what's already there?
>>
>> > //ceed- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> But why is it hidden like that? I mean, it's not even indicated that
> this stuff exist in the firewall interface in Control Panel. Another
> way to protect users from themselves, or?
>

Its hidden because software firewalls don't actually add much protection by
"blocking" outgoing connections.
There are many reasons for this but they include:

the user doesn't understand them and clicks on allow whenever a program
requests access.

the user blocks stuff which shouldn't be blocked and doesn't know how to fix
it.

the malware just turns the firewall off.. silently (as some viruses did with
ZA a while ago).


> Well, this Vista Firewall Control interface is simple to use. I wish
> Vista would come with something like that since the firewall obviously
> is quite capable!

It is quite capable of letting the unwary think they are safe because they
have a "firewall" when they don't really have any such thing.. just like
zonealarm and the others do.


If you know what you are doing they can be a useful tool but don't rely on
them for real security.

ceed [Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:02:48 -0700] wrote:

>On Aug 25, 10:55 pm, "Robert Firth" <webmas...@winvistainfo.org>
>wrote:
>> Do a start menu search for "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security". This
>> section is filled with tons of options.
>>
>> Robert Firthhttp://www.winvistainfo.org
>>
>> "ceed" <ceed.spamea...@dysthe.net> wrote in message
>>
>> news: ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hi,
>>
>> > I have been looking at the Vista firewall a little bit. I did some
>> > searching and came across this program called Vista Firewall Control:
>>
>> >http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html
>>
>> > After I installed it I started getting messages about programs
>> > connecting and could allow or deny them. This seems very similar to
>> > the commercial (and some free) software firewalls I have used in the
>> > past. If Vista's built in firewall control can do these things why
>> > isn't the user interface for it built into Vista itself? I'm not a
>> > firewall expert at all, but it makes me wonder when it only takes
>> > someone writing a user interface to make the built in firewall into
>> > something that looks like full fledged software one.
>>
>> > Does the Vista firewall have "hidden" capabilities, or is the program
>> > above more than just a user interface for what's already there?
>>
>> > //ceed- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>But why is it hidden like that? I mean, it's not even indicated that
>this stuff exist in the firewall interface in Control Panel. Another
>way to protect users from themselves, or?

It's not hidden, you can access these advanced features of the Vista
firewall as shown by "Spirit" in this thread or via the Control Panel:

1. Open Administrative Tools by clicking the Start button Picture of the
Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance,
and then clicking Administrative Tools.

2. Double-click Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. If you are
prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the
password or provide confirmation.

>Well, this Vista Firewall Control interface is simple to use. I wish
>Vista would come with something like that since the firewall obviously
>is quite capable!

Don't put too much hope on that Vista software firewall. If you can
switch it off on your PC, so can malware.

If you are looking for real protection for your PC, get a dedicated
hardware firewall instead. The firewall in your router - if you're using
one - could be sufficient.

Some more or less useful information can be found here:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...296ce1033.mspx

Marco