Windows firewall

Am I in a secure place for someone to help with the security regarding my Windows Firewall. When I Google some of the entries all I see is trouble by well meaning but ill informed people.

I don't want to expose the sensitive parts of my PC but would like to know if the entries in my firewall contain malware. 

Don't know if I can help but don't want to leave you stranded either.

 

What kind of example can you give as to what your seeing?

Would a print screen of apps being allowed compromise my PC?

 

The following is an entry in my firewall when I click allow an app through a firewall;  {78E1CD88-49E3-476E-B926-580E596AD309}

I Google to see if it they safe but cannot determine what they  are.

It seems odd that we just trust the firewall without seeing what is being allowed.

Google says you can remove an app but I am unable to following directions.

Not to hijack your thread, Juliet, but that is Remote Desktop Service.  Part of your Windows 10. 

 

It is not nefarious… but can be turned off.  Many people keep this service shut off.  I use it so I keep it active on all my computers.  It allows me to operate my computer in my office from any computer anywhere… including my cell phone.  Obviously, if someone else had my info, they could operate my computer remotely also.  I do take care to make it as safe as possible by doing things like using non standard ports.

How do you remove an app?
I follow directions on Google but was unable to even get the word remove to be active

It's not an app.  It's a service.

 

What app do you want to remove?

Perhaps you are saying you want to disable Windows Remote Desktop.

 

I don't have a Windows 10 computer but these directions appear easy enough to follow: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/92433-enable-disable-remote-desktop-connections-windows-10-pc.html

You jump right on in there cause what I use to research is an antique…

 

Thank you Tom

So can one remove an app from the Windows firewall where it says," Allow an app through a firewall?"

I'm unclear what you mean to remove an app from Windows firewall. 

 

When you allow an app through a firewall, it's kind of like giving it a key to the door to get through the firewall.  You don't remove an app from the firewall.  I'm thinking that you are really wanting to revoke the permissions that allows an app through the firewall.

 

To remove the permissions: Open Windows Defender security center.  Select Firewall and Network Protection.  Select allow an app through the firewall.  Uncheck the box for the app for which you want to revoke the permission.

"Allow an app or feature through Windows firewall,"  shows entries that the firewall is controlling where one can disable or enable by clicking, 'Change settings,' at the top. 

I googled remove an app through Windows firewall and saw steps to do so therefore I thought it could be done.

I do not plan on doing it and your explanation is clear enough for even me to grasp.

Is it me or is the firewall advanced too hard for the average user? Literally advanced may be a clue.

Also, I find 'controlled folder access' under ransomware to be very hard to use also.

Sorry I cannot cite specifics because I do not understand any of it. I reference the average user when qualifying the ratings of these features.

I think it is fair to say that 99% of computer users never mess with firewall settings.  I don't.  Maybe not quite true.  I have a VPN set up on a server at my office that allows me to operate my office computer through remote desktop.  This requires a little bit of messing with firewall settings to function.

 

As I don't have a Windows 10 computer, I've never messed with controlled folder access.  Reading a little about it I'd say that very few users mess with it.  Honestly, Rich over in the Windows forum is more likely to know about these things.

You do a good job Tom thank you for all of your advice.

I guess you have trust Windows to do it for you.

If you know what to do you can likely enhance security but that's  a big if.

I believe that the most important way to increase security… is what you don't do.  If I don't do something that I don't know what will happen, I feel that I am unlikely to be infected.