Windows 10 has a built-in firewall, which should keep the biggest misery at bay. By which we mean hackers who secretly connect your system to a poorly secured router or public hotspot.
Windows 10 not only has a built-in virus scanner immediately after installation, but also an equally built-in firewall. For average use, both parts will suffice. If you want more control and (or) better protection against viruses and other forms of malware, then it is wise to install a commercial AV package. But if you use the Windows own variant, you are now also fairly safe. The firewall is also quite configurable! In principle, the default settings are good and you don't have to worry about it. It is important, however, when linking to a new network that is not yours, not to mark this as trusted if requested. Only then will you really keep your scum out. To take a look at the settings options of the Windows firewall, click on the Defender shield at the bottom right of the system tray. In the window that opens, click Firewall and Network Security. Depending on how your network is structured, you will see various options. One of them is active. By clicking on it you can enable at least one option: Block all incoming connections, including connections in the allowed apps list. Only do this in an emergency, if you feel like someone is trying to break into your system. Some programs require incoming connections to function properly. But in an emergency, this can be a great blocking option.
Control app permissions
You can in principle block software by first going back (via the arrow at the top left) to the previous window. Then click Allow an app through the firewall. Press the button Change settings and disable the unwanted app. It is not entirely clear what is happening now, in our case, for example, Firefox disabled as a test continued to have internet access. In this case, Hitman Pro could be a cause, possibly 'overruling' the Windows firewall. Incidentally, in case of an installed internet security suite, the Windows firewall is no longer used anyway, so it makes no sense to adjust its settings! Anyway, after disabling a program, click OK and in principle you should no longer be able to access the internet with it. You will find many more options under Advanced settings. Here you can click on the left Rules for inbound traffic clicking and then right New rule. In the first step of the wizard, select the option Gate and go through the rest of the questions. In this way you can set up your Windows system, for example, as a web server that can be reached over your entire home network. If you want your system to be accessible via the internet, you will have to activate port forwarding settings in your router. However, be extremely careful when opening ports on your system: this often leads to major security risks. Only do so if you know exactly what you are doing!
