does the firewall download the rules set via update

DarkStar GT · 11 May 2010

Understood.

Initially,all ports are open for the app, but you can restrict it to specific ports by editing in the port number(s). So there is a small risk while you do this edit, but at least you only have to do it once.

Creer · 11 May 2010

DarkStar GT said:

Understood.

Initially,all ports are open for the app, but you can restrict it to specific ports by editing in the port number(s). So there is a small risk while you do this edit, but at least you only have to do it once.

Right, but in case built-in Windows Vista/7 firewall it's a little bit tricky because you have to remember to do this by self (strict a port/s number range) and when you don't do this then anyway your application (uTorrent) still will be working well (since there is rule for All Ports) without any signs of possible security weakness on ports of TCP and UDP protocol.

szoltan · 19 Aug 2011

There is no outbound filtering

This is simply not true, windows firewall in Vista and Windows 7 has a two-way filtering control.

OTOH, if you want to know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a third-party firewall and configure/maintain it.

This is, again, simply not true, for the above mentioned reason, in fact Vista/Win7 firewall's filtering is much better than most 3rd party firewalls have and not to mention that needs less resources to operate. You can create very strict rules for applications.