Windows 7 - windows firewall doesn't notify

I decided to try out windows firewall and it works. I turned on in and out bound filtering and set windows firewall to alert me when blocking a program. Then I opened up firefox, and it's blocked so the firewall is doing it's job, but there's no notice from windows telling me that it blocked a program. I've never used windows firewall before but from my experience firewalls should give you a nice popup that lets you allow or deny and some other options. Why doesn't windows firewall do this?

Thanks for your time.

As far as I know Windows firewall only ever alerts you when a program wants to listen for network connections (like a p2p application or a game server for example).

There might be a way to configure it otherwise but it looks a bit daunting and not much worth the hassle since other third-party firewalls are able to do a much better job of it.

It's a cheap firewall that's why. Try using a real one.

I agree with kirov. I am also playing with the firewall and have all notifications turned on. I get no popups or notifications I can see and also nothing seems to be written to the log.

Surely, if they have options for notifications, they must think it should work!

kirov, saltgrass

there is an ongoing discussion about the merits or lack thereof the windows firewall. I am in the other camp. I use eset smart security, it combines a really good aintivrus and a a cemmercial grade firewall complete with pop-ups user defined rules, etc.

ken

I've used Windows firewall and Windows 7 Firewall Control : Sphinx Software an add-on for it.

I use the free version - it seems sufficient - and it pops a notification when it blocks something and allows you to change the program from "disable all" (the default) to "allow all", "allow inbound" or "allow outbound".

Might be worth a look.

(I also use COMODO firewall on a couple of my systems.)

I agree about using other firewalls, I myself use Zone Alarm. But some folks I know were having problems so I tried to figure out how it works.

Some things I noticed, the name of the Sphnix software is misleading. It does not control the Win 7 firewall, but as was pointed out, is it's own firewall. The Win 7 firewall does not need to be turned on. The Firewall Control software will not add or remove allowed programs from the Win 7 firewall.

I have noticed if you are not using the Sphinx software and go through the Security Center to add programs to the allowed, those programs are added only to the Inbound section, so if you have the Outbound blocked except for allowed, the program will still be blocked. You will still have to go to the Windows Firewall with Advanced Securty Outbound section and add the program there.

My error in describing it as an add-on.

I agree that the name is confusing, due to the way it uses the Windows firewall.

Here's what PCWorld says:

"...Windows 7 Firewall Control Free lets you tell the Windows firewall to block applications from making outbound connections to the internet, or to customise the way they make those connections..."
Sphinx Soft Windows 7 Firewall Control Free - reviews - Software and Services - Security - PC World

And here's what Sphinx says:

"...Windows7FirewallControl is completely based on Windows Filtering Platform (WFP), the security core introduced in Windows Vista and does not install any third party kernel drivers. The Built-in Firewall is based on the same WFP as well. The both products work entirely independently.

Windows7FirewallControl uses the Built-in Firewall only once, at the first start to grab the initial settings. Due to complete product independence you can switch the Built-in Firewall ON or OFF at your option. .."
F.A.Q. : Windows 7 Firewall Control : Sphinx Software

(emphasis added)

So PCWorld is wrong in ascribing it as an add-on to the firewall, but it does need to use it to get started.

So it seems that Microsoft cut some corners trying to ship Windows 7 early. A classic example of windows not doing what you tell it to do.

Another gripe is how you can't have inbound and outbound rules combined under one rules list with in & out bound setting in the rule's properties.

So...do you guys think that using windows firewall is worth the hassle? Think microsoft will fix it in the next service pack?