All operating systems of the Windows family have built-in security features that are designed to protect the system from unwanted effects from the outside and from the inside. If we proceed from the tools of the latest versions of the OS, in this set you can find the set restrictions on user actions by the so-called super administrator, firewall (firewall), Windows Defender, TrustedInstaller service, etc. But now we are more interested in the firewall (Windows 10 we take only as an example). Since in all OS settings are practically the same.
Where is the Windows 10 firewall, how to set up the toolkit: general concepts
Before starting to consider how to add an element to the exceptions of the Windows 10 firewall, we will consider how this component works.
Initially, the functionality of this component was conceived in such a way that permissions were issued automatically. Blocking unwanted programs (for example, those that do not have digital signatures) implies a request to the user for permission to install or run them. But as it turns out, blocking occurs so that sometimes applications, and at the same time the ports that they can use to access the Internet in the process, are blocked initially. And that is why some elements must be added to the so-called exception lists manually. How to do this for different components will be discussed later.
The firewall itself in the tenth version of the system can be found in the same place where it was in systems of a lower rank - in the classic "Control Panel". But in the new settings menu, it is located in the network and Internet section in the status menu. The "Control Panel" is hidden deep enough, so it can be called up as quickly as possible through the "Run" console by entering the control command.
As for the principles of customization, not to mention the activation or deactivation of protection, it all comes down to two things: the direct entry of an element in a special list or the creation of certain rules for it. Next, we will see which elements can be added to the exceptions.
Windows 10 Firewall: How to Add to Application Exclusions
The first and most important thing that most users are interested in is disabling the blocking of installed or already installed applications. Adding a program to the exceptions of the Windows 10 firewall is quite simple.
After entering the main settings section, you need to use the permission link for interaction with applications located on the left, after which a list of allowed programs will be displayed (they will be marked with checkmarks). To add an application, first you need to click the button for changing parameters, and then - the permission button for another application.
After that, through the review, you need to select the executable file of the program (for example, the Chrome browser), indicate the type of network (for example, private) and use the add button. At the end of the action, the program will appear in the list of allowed.
The question of how to add a specific program to the exceptions of the Windows 10 firewall can be resolved through the command line, which is run as administrator.
For the above browser, the command will look like the one shown in the image above. But that is not all.
In the same way, you can use the PowerShell console, which prescribes a slightly different combination, and this method is absolutely equivalent.
Creating Port Rules
As you know, some programs, by the nature of their activity, need constant access to the Internet, but using a specific port (take the same Skype using port 443). Sometimes you need to open ports yourself, because some channels are blocked by default.
You can add a port to the exceptions of the Windows 10 firewall in a way that is somewhat different from adding applications to the allowed list.
In this case, the creation of a new rule for incoming connections is used, the type “For port” is indicated, the appropriate protocol (TCP / UDP) is selected and the port number is entered (for example, 443). You can also specify a resolution for all local ports. This means that they will all be open.
Is it possible to create an exception for the site?
But adding the site to the exceptions of the Windows 10 firewall will fail. This means that this cannot be done by entering the usual domain name, which is written in the address bar of the browser. But such a limitation can be circumvented.
To do this, you need to find out the IP address of the resource you are looking for (the ping command is written on the command line, and a partial address without www is entered after a space).
And with such an address you can already work, only in this case the change in the area and the filtering parameters are selected. You can also configure a custom list.
Enable and disable
How to add the basic elements to the exceptions of the Windows 10 firewall, figured out. Now a few words about enabling and disabling the firewall. Actually, such an opportunity is already provided for in the system. But it happens that such options are not available. To activate them, you must enable at least one of the available networks.
But is it advisable to disable the firewall? Microsoft does not recommend this categorically, believing that without it, extraneous threats could enter the system or unwanted programs will be installed. One can argue with this, since the instrument itself has, so to speak, its own “moral code”, the rules of which may not coincide with the views of the user. Therefore, no matter what they say, if you have a powerful antivirus installed with built-in protection against unwanted programs or something like that, you can forget about the Windows firewall, not to mention situations when a third-party software or even “iron” firewall is installed.
Brief summary
Based on the material presented above, it is easy to understand that the problem of how to add some elements to the exceptions of the Windows 10 firewall is solved quite simply. Here the main emphasis should be on the choice of the correct parameters (in particular, this concerns the opening of ports). Otherwise, there should be no problems, and any user (even the entry-level level) can take advantage of such tools.