To Customer Support To Customer Support
Solved

About WSA firewall compatible with windows firewall

  • 21 November 2012
  • 29 replies
  • 329 views
L
Rank
Hi,
 
I have a question about the WSA firewall.
It is declared that WSA firewall need windows firewall to work, it is an added protection.
However, when I set the WSA firewall with block one process called "iexplorer.exe" which is ie browser.
And then I set the windows firewall to allow the connection for "iexplorer.exe".
The result is blocking the internet for browser.  
Further more when I turned off the windows firewall, WSA pops out an dialog to warn me. 
I clicked "No" for not activate the windows firewall, and WSA firewall is still open.
In this situation, I still can't use IE to surf the internet.


 
The question is, is WSA firewall independent with windows firewall?
If no, why suggest to open windows firewall?
If yes, why I turned off the windows firewall, and WSA firewall still works?
 
I check the previous discussions as well, but it didn't mention about the "independent" or "priority"
If I turned off the windows firewall( because setting windows firewall rule is so inconvenient)
Only rely on WSA firewall, what is the risk for outbound and inbound respectively?
 
Thank you.
icon

Best answer by pegas 21 November 2012, 11:43

View original

29 replies

RetiredTripleHelix
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
You can via Windows Firewall but be sure that WSA's Firewall will block malware calling out if infected and I have not heard anything more about expanding this at all as Windows 8.1 Firewall does a great job and Microsoft made it to be this way so why duplicate it that's all the other vendors are doing so it's like make up in a sense.
 
TH
M
Rank
@ wrote:
This is normal for Windows 8 see quote from , the V.P. of Development.
 
This is by design on Windows 8 as the firewall controls are somewhat limited by the OS. We'll be extending this further but the OS does a very good job at firewall by itself.
HTH,
 
TH
 
 
It is almost a year later, and this critical feature is not added.  Why?  There are several programs that I use and do not want to access the internet!
M
Windows 7 fine...windows 8 not showing
RetiredTripleHelix
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
This is normal for Windows 8 see quote from https:///t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/212, the V.P. of Development.
 
This is by design on Windows 8 as the firewall controls are somewhat limited by the OS. We'll be extending this further but the OS does a very good job at firewall by itself.
HTH,
 
TH
superssjdan
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +13
Issue(network applications not displaying properly) seems to be exclusive to Windows 8 machines.My wife has windows 7 installed and no issues,and i called 2 others i have done installs for with Vista and XP OS and they do not have this issue.
WSA 9.0.29.62,Macrium Reflect Paid, Diskeeper 18,AMD Ryzen 7 3700X - 32GB 3000mhz Memory - AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT - 2TB HDD + 1 TB Samsung M.2 970 EVO SSD
superssjdan
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +13
I didn't think much of it.but have that same issue(network applications) as well.Will keep track of this thread
WSA 9.0.29.62,Macrium Reflect Paid, Diskeeper 18,AMD Ryzen 7 3700X - 32GB 3000mhz Memory - AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT - 2TB HDD + 1 TB Samsung M.2 970 EVO SSD
M
Rank
Userlevel 2
Thanks Mike!
MikeR
Userlevel 7
Thank you for this information and your concern, mar122999.
 
We are looking into this with our developers and will update the thread with our results.
Mike R Social Media Manager
M
Rank
Userlevel 2
I noticed the other day that WSA isn't showing firewall filters to 'Block' and 'Allow' applications. Fresh copy of Windows 8 Pro x64. Here is a pic of the problem below.
 
I have tried unistalling and reinstalling. That didn't work.
 

RetiredTripleHelix
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
I know it doesn't when you purchase but the online Help File does https://detail.webrootanywhere.com/agenthelp.asp?n=Managing_the_Firewall but shows nothing specific about Win 8 as it's still a very new OS IMO but I will let the Webroot Staff help you anwser your questions as I can only show you the info that I know about.
 
Sorry,
 
TH
M
also, to be fair to customers, the product should clearly state that it has to work with windows firewall to achieve maximum protection
M
ok, read the post...still unclear.
Do I reinstall or is this a limitation of windows 8
M
Yep...firewall is on.
RetiredTripleHelix
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
@ wrote:
Greeting gang,
 
I've switched my family from Norton 360 to Webroot Complete.
I'm a bit concerned that the firewall doesn't seem to have many options...including options the program says it has.
PC Security > Firewall >Network Applications does not have allow, block, permit showing.
Additionally, even with Windows Firewall activated, the fire wall has failed several times on the GRC test site.
Should I be adding another firewall ?
 
Thanks
Mike in Oz
Windows Firewall should pass the GRC test can you make sure it's on?
 
Quote from the WSA Firewall Help file.
The SecureAnywhere firewall monitors data traffic traveling out of your computer ports. It looks for untrusted processes that try to connect to the Internet and steal your personal information. It works with the Windows firewall, which monitors data traffic coming into your computer. With both the SecureAnywhere and Windows firewall turned on, your data has complete inbound and outbound protection.You should not turn off either the Windows firewall or the SecureAnywhere firewall. If they are disabled, your system is open to many types of threats whenever you connect to the Internet or to a network. These firewalls can block malware, hacking attempts, and other online threats before they can cause damage to your system or compromise your security.
 
TH
RetiredTripleHelix
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
Hello mapleleaf3 and Welcome to the Webroot Community Forums.
 
Please have a look at this thread and notice what PrevxHelp has to say as he is the VP of Development at Webroot: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=335773
 
TH
M
Should say, I'm running windows 8 - I know, the few and the brave 🙂
M
Greeting gang,
 
I've switched my family from Norton 360 to Webroot Complete.
I'm a bit concerned that the firewall doesn't seem to have many options...including options the program says it has.
PC Security > Firewall >Network Applications does not have allow, block, permit showing.
Additionally, even with Windows Firewall activated, the fire wall has failed several times on the GRC test site.
Should I be adding another firewall ?
 
Thanks
Mike in Oz
L
Rank
Actually, I'm still curious about how WSA firewall do the "independent" things.
 
Windows provide WFP to create network filtering applications. For webroot, I believe that is used these apis to achieve.
 
However, WFP works only if the BFE service is on. 
 
Why WSA works if I trun the BFE service down? (if WSA uses WFP apis)
 
I also install Norton product, Norton will wake BFE up automatically.
 
RetiredTripleHelix
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
Here is some info about XP Firewall & Win 7 Firewall
 
TH
RetiredTripleHelix
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
Both still it's just XP has no outbound at all but WSA fills that gap! But Win Vista, Win 7 & Win 8 has both but I don't use Windows firewall because I use a third party firewall in Look'n'Stop since 2005 and so far it's been a one time charge but it's future is up in the air ATM.
 
TH
 
EDIT: Also I'm behind a Firewall Router which again has both inbound and outbound so very well protected! :D

 
ProTruckDriver
Rank
Userlevel 7
@ wrote:
  You didn't used to even have outbound firewall capabilities in older versions of the Windows firewall, such as in XP, which is a supported operating system.  If you have WSA on an XP computer, the outbound firewall door only exists once.  You don't even have two of them.  
 
 
Hello liasnic, Welcome to the Webroot Community Forum. :D
Now I'm confused.  So using WSA with Widows Firewall Windows XP SP-3, what do I have? Inbound & Outbound or just Inbound?
https://detail.webrootanywhere.com/agenthelp.asp?n=Managing_the_Firewall
 
"With both the SecureAnywhere and Windows firewall turned on, your data has complete inbound and outbound protection."
 
 
Late 2015 ~ 5K ~ 27 inch iMac ~ macOS Catalina 10.15.7 ~ Clone & Backup with: SuperDuper - Time Machine & iCloud. PWM: RoboForm.  "An Apple a Day, Keeps Microsoft Away." 
JimM
Userlevel 7
I wouldn't exactly say that, but I would say that WSA's firewall is an enhancement to the existing WIndows firewall.  This isn't a "one is better than the other" kind of comparison.  This is more of a "This one does things this other one doens't do and viceversa" kind of comparison.  You didn't used to even have outbound firewall capabilities in older versions of the Windows firewall, such as in XP, which is a supported operating system.  If you have WSA on an XP computer, the outbound firewall door only exists once.  You don't even have two of them.  
 
Then look at Windows 7 however, and the built-in firewall is more customizable and can do more, but it's still not perfect.  One of the best things about the WSA firewall is that it will warn you if any new, untrusted files connect to the internet while in an infected state.  You don't get that with the standard Windows 7 firewall, and WSA fills that gap.  Likewise, the Windows firewall fills the inbound gap quite well, which is why we don't need to have WSA step in and do that instead.
/// JimM /// /// Former Community Manager - Now Humble Internet Citizen/// /// Also Formerly a Technical Support Escalations Engineer ///
L
Rank
Thanks Jim. That would be more clear to me.

Consider only outbound rule, since they are like two doors, can I said that because either one door is not strong enough, so I need two doors in this?
pegas
Rank
Userlevel 7
Thx Jim for the additional clarification. It gives now a complete picture how Windows and WSA firewall work together.
JimM
Userlevel 7
Just to add a little to what's been said, if you have an outbound connection blocked in either firewall, it would block that connection.  Having it allowed in one and blocked in the other will still result in a block.  It's kind of like trying to walk through two doors - one of which is closed.  The order of the doors doesn't matter if one of them is closed.
/// JimM /// /// Former Community Manager - Now Humble Internet Citizen/// /// Also Formerly a Technical Support Escalations Engineer ///

Reply


Terms & Conditions

© 2004 - Webroot Inc.

We have recently updated our Privacy Policies. We encourage you to read the full terms here.