Windows 7 Firewall Control

Helo
I have trouble figuring the Win7 native firewall. I have the 64 byte os.
Is the title of this post an easier yet safe choice for firewalls.
All the choices in the native firewall about what to allow and not is confusing
and the outbound feature is weak.
I read Gizmo's article and this seemed good yet easier.
Would I need to uninstall the native one if this is to be installed?
Thank you

 

I included the link but something has come up in the meanwhile.

I failed Gibson's leak test and I am not surprised with this firewall. He recommended Zone Alarm and discussed what it does to make it worthwhile.
I don't know if it is user friendly.
I just did not want to start downoloading firewalls and gunking up the pc. I know the native one is not good for me and wonder if anyone has had luck with ZA regarding the leak test and being user friendly.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-firewall.htm

 

Gibson is an idiot. Forget what his site told you. As long as you are behind a NAT router, you are fine. If you are on a public network, just enable the Windows 7 firewall for the public network, and it will take care of everything else.

In order to really do anything good with Windows 7 firewall, you really need Win7 Pro, since it is limited in Home & Starter. Some good info on the firewall at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755158(v=WS.10).aspx#bkmk_7 Also see http://hardenwindows7forsecurity.com/

 

I appreciate your information.
If I restore the firewall to defaults will it do harm like not allow me to get to a program, or will it just ask me to allow each time a new one appears?

 

It will relearn your habits. I turn mine off, when connected to my home network, due to there is no need for it, since our 2-Wire 3800HGV-B RG does a good job with its firewall.

 

Mind if I ask why you are concerned about the Win 7 firewall peter? As has already been said, when you are behind a NAT router, as you are, you don't really need a firewall at all on the inbound side, and the outbound side is there to prevent malicious software that does get in from spreading its malice to other networks or machines. While certainly desirable, that isn't essential to you. In any case I've seen no evidence at all that the Win 7 firewall doesn't do a good job so where have you got this from? Gibson? If so you can forget it!

Also, the default settings are fine and you don't normally need to adjust them at all. Sure you aren't creating an issue where none exists?

 

Hello
The reason I asked about the Win 7 native firewall and clicking default is that i tried to adjust some settings but think I would be better off with the default ones.
I wasn't sure if Iwould cause harm if Idid or if Iwould just have to allow programs I need again.

I heard about Windows 7 Firewall Control and Tiny firewall which supposedly make it easier to use.

If you use them, do you just turn off Windows native one ?

I am only ryng to be as secre as can be as I got my first visitor in years the other day. MSE removed it.