Dropped Firewalls

I run Windows 7 Home Premium. I have Windows Firewall turned on, I use Vipre Internet Security 2012, with the firewall properly configured, I check with the manufacturer. For 2 days in a row now, I sit down to the PC only to see both firewalls have been disabled. Windows firewall, disable, and Vipre active protection and web filter disabled. At the time they are disabled, the PC is slow and freezing. I threw many malware tests to it, full scan with Vipre, Malwarebytes, Microsoft's malware scan with most currrent defs. I ran the sfc for corrupted system files. All came back clean. I really suspected infection, but leaning now more toward intrusion. I now changed the password for my wireless, and will be putting in a sonicwall. Any other ideas of what may be happening?

Is there some over-riding reason you are trying to run 2 firewalls simultaneously?

During the set up of Vipre, it did not list a requirement of turning windows firewall, which I have run for 3 years now. I did turn off windows firewall after the first incodent of finding both firewalls turned off, and still encountered the isuue again, second day in a row. I got with tech support of Vipre to for proper config of Vipre, which was okay. But once again, I found today, Vipre firewall setting for active protection and web filtering was disabled while no one was on the pc. Intrusion?

I'm no expert, but I can't find much support on Google for 2 firewalls running simultaneously.

Did Vipre tech support have anything to say about dual firewalls and what was your general impression of them? Can they fog up a mirror?

Did your dual firewall setup ever run properly? For an hour? For a month? or?

My first impulse would not be intrusion unless your web-surfing habits suddenly changed.

You can actually configure Windows Firewall to work with Vipre Firewall by creating new inbound and outbound rules within Windows Firewall, allowing for both Firewalls to work simultaneously, via new ports. I set it up using the KB article from Vipre, then doulbe checked with tech support to confirm the set was right. All was okay. I for now have changed the firewall settings on my router and changed the password, and so far have not had another issue yet. The variety of web surfing habits is pretty extreme here to begin with, so say the habits have not changed would not be possible. As for Vipre Internet Security, I have been happy with so far, as I check each year for the 'top 10' programs from pcworld and pcmag testing. Vipre has made the list for the last 3 yrs, it has a good interface, uses minimal resources, root kit detection, installs quickly, use on up to 10 pc's for one low price. The school districts around here all use Sonicwall for intrusion prevention, relying on this heavily. They seem to do a good job if configured properly, may be switching to their firewall and filters. Thanks for all the feedback so far.

Clark Kent said:

You can actually configure Windows Firewall to work with Vipre Firewall by creating new inbound and outbound rules within Windows Firewall, allowing for both Firewalls to work simultaneously, via new ports. I set it up using the KB article from Vipre, then doulbe checked with tech support to confirm the set was right. All was okay. I for now have changed the firewall settings on my router and changed the password, and so far have not had another issue yet. The variety of web surfing habits is pretty extreme here to begin with, so say the habits have not changed would not be possible. As for Vipre Internet Security, I have been happy with so far, as I check each year for the 'top 10' programs from pcworld and pcmag testing. Vipre has made the list for the last 3 yrs, it has a good interface, uses minimal resources, root kit detection, installs quickly, use on up to 10 pc's for one low price. The school districts around here all use Sonicwall for intrusion prevention, relying on this heavily. They seem to do a good job if configured properly, may be switching to their firewall and filters. Thanks for all the feedback so far.

That might be the issue as both seem to be trying to communicate on the same ports and therefore shut each other out which by default disables both firewalls.

You create new ports, just for Vipre, in the advanced settings of windows firewall. I changed my router password, and some of the firewall settings in the router after this initial post, and have not had an isssue since regarding the dropped firewalls. Coincidence? Not sure. After a few more days, if still no more issue, and the only thing I really did different was change the router info, I'm thinking that must be the answer. We will see, thanks for all the feedback.

Hello,

I am no expert here, but this same thing has happened to me. All of the sudden, the network links were turned off and could not be turned on. Windows was giving me a message that Windows Security needed to be turned on. I opened Malwarebytes, and it's protection had also been disabled. I went into System Configure, and noticed that my firewall had been disabled on 6/24/2012. I know I didn't do it, and my husband has no idea how to do any of this crap! Also, I tried to do a System Restore, and I got an error message telling me that System Restore wasn't working on this computer.So, I also noticed that all my other security had been disabled. I enabled it all again and it did the trick--i.e, I got the Network links up and running and can go online now. However, my computer is running very slow.
I have run a quick scan in Avast, which hasn't found anything. I am going to run another scan in Malwarebytes, but does anyone have any thoughts, advice or ideas on what to do next? Thanks!