How Do I Know if My Computer Has a Firewall?
By Matthew Burley
Computers that are connected to a network or the Internet are open to a variety of attacks. You can install some forms of protection, such as an antivirus program or malware protection, to help thwart these attacks. Additionally, you can install or activate a firewall on your computer to allow or block network transmissions on your computer. Windows 7 installations include the Windows Firewall by default, but some other security programs can change your settings to use their own firewall. You can check your firewall status at any time within Windows.
Click "Start" at the lower left corner of your screen.
Click "Control Panel" in the column on the right side of the menu.
Click the green "System and Security" link.
Click the green "Windows Firewall" link.
Check the value next to "Windows Firewall" to determine if a firewall is turned on. If the value says "On," then you are using the Windows Firewall. If it says "Off," then you do not have any firewall protection. Click "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" in the left column of the window to activate the Windows Firewall. If your firewall is being managed by a third-party security program, it will be indicated in this location.
References
Tips
- Depending on your network configuration, you may have a hardware firewall installed as an additional layer of protection. Additionally, many routers also include their own firewall. Contact your network administrator to find out more about your network hardware configuration.
Writer Bio
Matthew Burley has been a writer of online content since 2005. You can view many of his articles on associatedcontent.com. Burley holds a Bachelor of Science in political science from Arizona State and a Master of Science in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix.