Select Page

Firewall

What is a firewall?
A firewall is a piece of hardware and/or software that is designed to prevent some communication as defined in its rules.  The firewall can exist in multiple locations along the network path; the ones defined here are for the local host (your own machine).

Why do I need a firewall?
SEASnet is an open network; we do not block any communication between your computer, other computers, and the internet*.  Thus, without a firewall, your machine is “naked” to the internet and all the potentially malicious traffic.  A correctly configured firewall will protect you from a large amount of this.

* SEASnet will block your machine if we suspect it is compromised, infected with a worm/virus, causing problems with other network users, performing suspicious activity, etc.

Windows 8, 8.1 & 10

  • Information coming soon

Windows 7

  • Click on Start / Search for Windows Firewall and Run (Do not run Windows Firewall with Advanced Security)
  • Windows Firewall State should show as On. If not:
    • On the left panel, click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off
    • Check bullets to turn on the Firewall / Click OK
  • On the left panel, click on Advanced Settings
    • Click on Inbound Rules in the left panel
    • Browse to Printer Sharing (Echo Request – ICMPv4-In)
    • Ensure that the Profile Private shows YES for Enabled
    • To enable this rule, Right Click the rule / Click Enable Rule
    • Close the Firewall Program

Windows XP

Assumption: You are running Windows XP with the latest updates.

  • Click Start, Click Run, and type in “firewall.cpl”
    run_firewall
    Press enter/click OK
  • Click On
    firewall_on
  • Click on the Advanced tab, then click on the Settings for ICMP
    firewall_icmp
  • At the very least, check the box for Allow incoming echo request.  This allows us to see if your machine is “alive” on the network
    firewall_ping
  • Click on the Exceptions tab and check the box to Display a notification when Windows Firewall blocks a program
    firewall_notify
    Configuring the Exceptions is optional and can get quite involved; check with Microsoft or ask us if you want help in this part.
  • Click OK and you’re done

Note: The built-in Windows XP Firewall only protects from incoming traffic.  If your machine is somehow infected and starts sending out malicious traffic, the Windows Firewall will not block that. Other third-party software firewalls are available that will monitor that.  Examples: Norton Person Firewall, Zone Labs ZoneAlarm, Sygate Personal Firewall, etc. (This is not an endorsement of these programs.)