Technofriends

If you have a software which is not able to connect to the internet for some reason on a particular computer, you might be required to add exceptions to your Firewall software in order to allow the software to be able to send and receive data packets.

The motivation of this post is derived from the email i got from from a reader of this blog. This particular reader is not able to download torrents from his laptop. Upon reading his email i asked her to add exceptions to her firewall and things did work out after that. 

To help provide security for your computer, Windows Firewall blocks unsolicited requests to connect to your computer. Because the firewall restricts communication between your computer and the Internet, you might need to adjust settings for some programs that prefer an open connection to the Internet. You can make an exception for these programs, so that they can communicate through the firewall.

Below are the steps you need to take in order to add exceptions to your Windows Firewall 

You must be logged on to this computer as an administrator to complete this procedure.

1.) Open Windows Firewall by going to the Control Panel. Selecting Windows Firewall.

Image: Adding programs to Windows Firewall Exception List

2.) On the Exceptions tab, under Programs and Services, select the check box for the program or service that you want to allow, and then click OK.

If the program (or service) that you want to allow is not listed:

1.) Click Add Program.

2.) In the Add a Program dialog box, click the program that you want to add, and then click OK. The program will appear, selected, on the Exceptions tab, under Programs and Services.

3.) Click OK.

If the program (or service) that you want to allow is not listed in the Add a Program dialog box:

1.) In the Add a Program dialog box, click Browse, locate the program that you want to add, and then double-click it. (Programs are usually stored in the Program Files folder on your computer.) The program will appear under Programs, in the Add a Program dialog box.

2.) Click OK. The program will appear, selected, on the Exceptions tab, under Programs and Services.

3.) Click OK.

If you still do not find the program, you can open a port instead. A port is like a small door in the firewall that allows communications to pass through. To specify which port to open, on the Exceptions tab, click Add Port. (When you open a port, remember to close it again when you are done using it.)

The above process describes step by step process for adding excpetions to the Windows Firewall. However, Its important for you to understand that each time you allow an exception for a program to communicate through Windows Firewall, your computer is made more vulnerable. To allow an exception is like poking a hole through the firewall. If there are too many holes, there is not much wall left in your firewall. Unknown intruders often use software that scans the Internet looking for computers with unprotected connections. If you have many exceptions and open ports, your computer can become a victim of these intruders.

 

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