Quick Guide on How to Disable your Windows 7 Firewall

Introduction

The Windows 7 firewall is an effective way to protect your computer and keep it secure. However, sometimes you may need to disable the firewall temporarily in order to install a program or troubleshoot a problem with the system. If you need to do this for any reason, this article will show you how.

Disabling Windows Firewall

It is not recommended for most users. However, if you’re using a third-party firewall and have problems with Windows Firewall or want to test your custom configuration, it may be easier to disable the operating system’s own firewall software first before testing yours. The steps below will help guide you through disabling and re-enabling your Windows Firewall in easy to follow steps.

Note: Please remember that disabling the Windows Firewall is dangerous and should only be done on a temporary basis for testing purposes. You will not have any protection from viruses or other malware attempting to enter your computer system through email, web browsing, etc. once you disable it.

How to Disable Your Windows 7 Firewall

Once you have installed the Windows Firewall, it will be automatically turned on. This is a security measure that helps to protect your computer from internet attacks and viruses. However, if for some reason you want or need to disable your firewall in order to install new software or games then here are simple instructions on how to do this.

Follow these instructions on how to disable your Windows Firewall:

Step One

Go the Control Panel and click “System”. Then go down to “Windows Firewall” in the left side menu. Click this option, then select ‘Turn windows firewall off’. This will turn it completely off from both private and public networks.

Step Two

If you wish to disable your firewall only for a private network, go down the left side menu again in Control Panel and click “Network and Internet”“. Then select ‘Advanced sharing settings’ from the window that appears next. Now find ‘Turn off windows firewalls for private networks’ and check this option.

Step Three

If you wish to disable your firewall only for a public network, go down the left side menu again in Control Panel and click “Network and Internet”“. Then select ‘Advanced sharing settings’ from the window that appears next. Now find ‘Turn off windows firewalls for public networks’ and check this option.

Step Four

If you wish to disable your firewall completely, go down the left side menu again in Control Panel and click “Network and Internet”. Then select ‘Advanced sharing settings’ from the window that appears next. Now find both options above and uncheck both of them.

Tips and Warnings: Once you have disabled your firewall, remember to turn it back on once everything is installed or if a virus ever attacks your computer again as this will help protect your personal information from being stolen. The process for enabling the Windows Firewall when necessary is the same as that outlined above but simply check the options you want to check rather than uncheck them.

Reasons to disable Windows Firewall

Sometimes you might need to disable the Windows Firewall for a short period of time. For example, if you’re having problems installing an executable file or want to test your application’s compatibility with another firewall product. Here are some reasons why people decide to disable their computer’s firewalls:

To check whether it is causing installation issues
To test compatibility with other firewalls
To check whether a third party firewall is working correctly. You can disable Windows Firewall and monitor whether the problem has been solved before enabling it again. Note that this might not work if your computer does not have another anti virus/anti malware solution installed because both will conflict with each other and cause major security issues on your computer.

The bottom line on disabling Windows firewall

Is that it should only be done temporarily and if you are not sure about doing so, then don’t. It is far safer to leave Windows Firewall enabled at all times as this will protect your computer from any outside threats while also ensuring a more stable system performance too.

It is recommended that you try to solve any installation issues and/or compatibility problems with other firewalls by consulting a professional before disabling your Windows Firewall. This way, you will be able to find the best solution for whatever problem has occurred which might prevent further security-related issues from occurring in future too.

The last line of defense should always be your Windows Firewall along with a third party anti virus/malware solution to ensure maximum protection for your computer. This is why it should always remain enabled at all times unless told otherwise by an expert or if you have another security product installed that does not conflict with the Windows Firewall on this particular machine.

Tips for keeping your computer safe without a firewall

If you are unable to use your firewall for whatever reason, there are still some things that you can do to keep yourself safe on the internet. Here is a list of tips:

Use an anti virus/anti malware solution
Install and maintain regular updates for all software installed (this also includes Windows itself)
Make sure all programs are kept up-to-date and that all software is downloaded from a reliable source
Create strong passwords for your accounts/websites such as email, social media etc (this also includes banking) so hackers cannot easily access them if they break into your computer.
Avoid clicking on links sent to you in emails unless you are certain that they are from a trusted source. Hackers often send out fake emails that contain links to viruses or malware which could potentially access your personal information if clicked on and downloaded onto your computer
Avoid using public computers/networks such as those at libraries, cafes etc unless you are certain that the network is secure (e.g. it requires a password). This is because they are more likely to contain viruses/malware and could be used by hackers as a way of breaking into your computer
Do not download pirated software or content. Hackers often spread their malware via fake torrents, cracks etc which people then download onto their computers without realising that it contains malicious software.