Summary: If the Windows firewall is not enabled, Windows will warn you. You can tell Windows that you know what you're doing and don't need the Windows firewall.
Recently, my husband had trouble installing a wireless router and enlisted the help of D-Link, the manufacturer. The staff instructed him to disable the Microsoft firewall. Now the warning about the computer being at risk is constantly showing. My husband told me not to worry because the router is acting as the firewall now. Is he correct to assume that? If not, what should we do?
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Your husband is half right. The router is, in fact, acting as a firewall. But, technically, only half a firewall.
But not to worry. I run with only half a firewall myself.
And I get no warnings.
Let's look at how.
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A router acts as a firewall to the extent that it prevents certain types of external access attempts from reaching your machines. Many consider that to be "half" a firewall, because many software firewalls also block internal attempts to access things on the internet. For example, with a router acting as your firewall a virus on someone else's machine out on the internet cannot access your machines directly - but a virus on your machine could reach out and contact machines out on the internet.
The trick, of course, to remaining safe in this situation is to be smart about the other ways that you can get infected - don't open attachments you don't trust, don't visit websites you don't trust, don't allow untrusted activex controls, and of course run regular anti-spyware and anti-virus scans and so on.
It's what I do. I don't run a software firewall - I rely solely on my router, and on my own "good behavior".
Now, about that annoying warning.
The Windows firewall is on by default. In fact, after Windows XP service pack 2, the firewall became downright annoying in an attempt to encourage people to do something to stay safe. If you do, or know, nothing else, Windows wants you to turn on the firewall just to stop the annoying message.
The other approach is to tell Windows "I know what I'm doing."
In Control Panel, double click on Security Center. You should see a dialog box including something like this:
Click on the Recommendations... button for this dialog:
Don't turn the firewall on, but instead check the box labeled "I have a firewall solution I'll monitor myself."
Once you hit "OK" the Firewall status in the Security Center will change to "Not Monitored":
That's the setting that, essentially, tells Windows "Stop bugging me, I know what I'm doing."
Related:
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Ask Leo! - What's a firewall, and how do I set one up?
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Ask Leo! - Internet Safety: How do I keep my computer safe on the internet?
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Ask Leo! - Do I need a firewall, and if so, what kind?
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Ask Leo! - So do I need SP2's Windows Firewall or not?
Article C2795 - September 24, 2006
leo the windows firewall is not turning off.What do i do?
Posted by: donavan at December 22, 2007 9:10 PMYour description of disabling Windows firewall warning was exceptionally well written-not only was it precisely correct, but you did it with zero technobabel, and the additional information you provided was both concise and useful!!!
Posted by: Dan Bresnahan at March 14, 2008 9:35 AMhey leo i need to know how to turn my firewall off not on. if you can help me i will appericate it.
Posted by: cody at April 12, 2008 11:46 AMthanks, cody
My firewall is on, but windows thinks it is off. Can you suggest why.
Posted by: Teresa Rossiter at September 25, 2008 3:00 AMhello Mr.leo,
Posted by: vivek sodani at September 25, 2008 5:23 AMi have done the firewall to not monitored status for a connection what is its mean firewall is turned off for that connection or still on. please tell.
Hello Leo!
Very nice explanation, did help me with Virus Warning, but my Firewall option doesnt have "Recommendations" button. What shall i do to disable windows firewall completely?
Thx in forward.
Posted by: Pera Kojot at January 30, 2009 1:53 PMHi I need to turn off my firewall on a Windows ME older computer. I cannot find security center anywhere? I need to install a Buffalo wireless adapter but it remains disabled and I do not know what to do?? Please help?
Best regards
Susie
16-Mar-2009
I have done everything what it says, with the recomendations. But i still cannot get onto Windows Messenger 2009. It keeps saying "We were unable to sign you into .NET Messenger Service, possibly because of a problem with this service or with your Internet Connection. Please make sure you are connected to the internet." But my internet connection is fine. Is it the firewall that is blocking it? I have been trying different things all day, and i cannot seem to be able to sign in please help!
Posted by: Lauren at March 21, 2009 11:16 AMI do not have a security center in my control panel what do i do now?
Posted by: Rianna at March 31, 2009 6:34 PMi get into control panel dob.click on sec.cntr.but i get a box that has nothing to do with firewall so unable to click on to recommendations. the box has areas in alphabetical order but nothing close to Firewall now what else can i do there should be some standards set up that need to give the consumer the option as to except or decline a product
Posted by: joe hawkins at April 8, 2009 5:54 AM