The purpose of a firewall is to protect your computer. The Windows operating system comes with its own built-in firewall that offers protection against attacks and unwanted access. If an unauthorized third party tries to access your computer, the software will automatically block the attempt, thus protecting your system and your data.
The Windows firewall is a key cyber security solution. It acts as a filter between your system and the Internet, checking (without your input) whether programs installed on your PC are allowed to connect to the Internet, and whether online applications or third-party devices are permitted to access your PC. If the firewall detects unauthorized traffic, it will block the access attempt and notify you.
It is possible to disable the Windows firewall, but you should only do so temporarily. One situation where you might need to turn off the firewall is to install software that would otherwise be blocked. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to show you how to turn off the firewall.