Resolved Windows 10 firewall

Just got a new comp and wondered if their firewall is good enough to use. I know it blocks incoming but not outgoing by default. Is this good enough or should I use the free Zonealarm? Can I close certain ports on the Window's firewall and make it more effective? Thanks.

 

Wow! You sure are behind the times there JAK. Ever since Windows Vista in 2004, the integrated Windows Firewall blocked both unauthorized incoming and outgoing access attempts!

It is important to understand firewall technologies are nothing special. That is, it is pretty safe to say a firewall is a firewall. The brand name does not matter. So yes, the integrated firewall in Windows, and especially in W10 is more than adequate. I have been using the Windows firewall on all my systems since Windows 7 (I never used Vista). There is no need to use a 3rd party firewall.

This brings up an opportunity to say something here. Windows 10 is NOT XP. Microsoft has not been sitting on their thumbs for the last 17 plus years since XP came out. What was often considered necessary with XP is not with Windows 10. That is, the default settings work best for about 99% of the users out there. It is highly unlikely your system is so unique you need to change any of those settings. Just let Windows do it. That applies to Windows Update, the Page File, Windows Defender security and all else. Keep Windows current and don't be "click-happy" on unsolicited downloads, links, attachments, and popups.

 

I have been under the impression that Win 10 firewall doesn't block outgoing by default, as this article stated.

It has the ability to block outgoing connections (which is disabled by default), but you can enable and fine tune them on the advanced firewall settings....

 

That tells me nothing. Where's the link?

Regardless, the statement is totally false. Outgoing protection is enabled by default and has been for nearly 15 years!

 

Read this explanation completely: https://www.howtogeek.com/165203/wh...stall-a-third-party-firewall-and-when-you-do/
Like Bill, I use Windows Firewall and have done from W95/98/2000/ME/XP/Vista/W7/W8/W10 and never had any problems incoming or outgoing. l

 

That article is pretty old. It suggests outbound traffic is not blocked. That is not true. What is true, and has been for many years, is authorized programs have outbound access - and that is a good thing. You want your browser, email program and other programs you installed to have outbound access.