Windows Firewall:-

Windows Firewall is a Microsoft Windows application that filters information coming to your system from the Internet and blocking potentially harmful  programs.
Windows Firewall Also Known as Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) before the introduction of Windows XP Service Pack 2 in 2004,
Windows Firewall is Windows’ built-in security feature that guards against unauthorized network traffic on a user’s computer. It helps protect a user’s computer from intrusions and harmful attacks by controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic.
The firewall offers three distinct layers of protection: private, public, and domain.

Private level: All traffic will be blocked from both incoming and outgoing connections.
Public level: All connections from outside the user’s local network will be blocked.
Domain level: Domain level is used if the users are on a network protected by an authentication server such as Active Directory and will block only
incoming connections from outside of the local network unless authorized by the said authentication server.

Features of Windows Firewall

• Block unauthorized traffic.
• Control programs.
• Create exceptions for trusted devices and locations.

Advantage:
Firewall executes all of these operations automatically, most users do not need to take any action.

Disadvantage:
Firewall can be used to restrict access to certain internet services, such as online games or peer-to-peer file-sharing networks.

Different Types of Firewall

1. Packet filtering firewall.
2. Circuit-level gateway.
3. Application-level gateway (Also Known As Proxy Firewall).
4. Stateful inspection firewall.
5. Next-generation firewall(NGFW).

Firewalls today can be deployed as a hardware appliance, be software-based or be delivered as a service.
Hardware-based firewalls:
A hardware-based firewall is an appliance that acts as a secure gateway between devices inside the network perimeter and those outside it.
Sometimes called network-based firewalls,

Software-based firewall:
A software-based firewall, or host firewall, runs on a server or other device. Host firewall software needs to be installed on each device requiring protection.

Cloud/hosted firewalls:
Managed security service providers (MSSPs) offer cloud-based firewalls.

How to Turn On/Off Windows Firewall?

 Go TO Controll Panal

or Type control panel in Windows Search bar then click on Control Panel from the search result.

Double Click on Control Panal

 

It will look like the picture below.

Click View by: Large Icon.

Then Click Windows Defender Firewall.

 Go to Left sidebar and click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.

 Automatically Selected Private network settings
      Select radio button  -->Turn off Windows Defender Firewall(Not Recomended)
Automatically Selected Public network settings.
   Select radio button  -->Turn off Windows Defender Firewall(Not Recomended)
Then Ok and Restart Your Computer.

 If You Turn Off Windows Defender Firewall 

If you Turn On Windows Defender Firewall . Then Click Ok.

 Finally Restart Your Computer.

 

Alternatives to Windows Firewall

• Comodo Firewall
• TinyWall
• GlassWire
• Norton Smart Firewall
• ZoneAlarm