It is possible to limit the incoming and outgoing network traffic for a particular application or TCP and IP port by means of the Windows Firewall.
This is a very popular method used to control the access of users to network resources from and to their computers. Users can individually configure the Windows Firewall settings on each machine.
You may also manage Windows Firewall settings and rules within a Windows domain if the computer you are using is part of that domain.
Port filtering rules are often implemented at the level of a router, an L3 switch, or by a dedicated firewall in large organizations.
You can spread your firewall rules across your Windows workstations and servers so that it will not restrict access to your network, however, this is not required.
What is an IP Address?
IP addresses are strings of numbers separated by periods in which the numbers are interconnected. An IP address is composed of four numbers, and each of the numbers in the set can range from 0 to 255, and each number in the set is a real number.
So, in effect, the full range of IP addresses will span somewhere between 0.0.0.0 and 255.255.255.255.
There is no randomness involved in IP addresses. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) produces and assigns them mathematically according to a set of rules.
While here the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the governing body for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a United States-based non-profit organization that has been maintaining the security of the internet and allowing it to be used by everyone since 1998.
When a person registers a domain name online, they do so through a domain registration service, which pays a fee to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Use of IP addresses
Typically, IP addresses are used behind the scenes without the users’ knowledge. To accomplish this, the following process is followed:-
- The device needs to connect to one of the networks connected to the internet in order for it to be able to access the internet. This will grant your device access to the internet.
- If you are working from home, then you can assume that the network that you are connected to will be your Internet Service Provider (ISP). For the office, you should use the network provided by your company.
- ISPs assign IP addresses to devices based on the location of the device.
- It is the ISP who’s routing your internet activity back to you, because they use the IP address of the computer you are using to send it. Seeing they are giving you access to the internet, they are responsible for assigning an IP address to your device so you can access the internet.
- The IP address of your computer may, however, change from time to time.
- You can take your device out with you while you are out, but you will not be able to use your home IP address that way. As a result, your ISP will assign you a different IP address, since you will be using a different network to access the internet and will not be using your current network to access the internet.
Configure the Windows Firewall Settings
Windows Firewall settings can be configured according to your individual needs, or the defaults can be restored if necessary. Here is what you have to do to perform this, just go to the Advanced section of the Firewall and modify settings according to your needs.
In order to begin, open up your Windows control panel and type in the word ‘firewall‘ into the search bar found in the control panel. Secondly, click on the Advanced Settings link in the Firewall and select the option ‘Advanced Settings‘.
Block IP (or IPs) in Windows Firewall
For most effective results, you will need to follow the below instructions if you wish to also block a specific IP address in Windows Firewall.
- First of all, in the search bar, type in ‘firewall.cpl‘ and press the Enter key.
- Once you have opened the Windows Firewall and have located the Advanced Settings, you need to click on it.
- Now click on ‘Inbound Rules‘ to bring up the list of the rules you wish to use on the left-hand side of the window.
- In order to do this, first, you have to create a New Rule.
- To do this, select the “New Rule” option in the Actions pane on the right-hand side.
- After that you have to open the “New Inbound Rule Wizard” window and to open it, you have to select “Port” and then click “Next.”
- Then in the next window, you have to select the “Port” option as the new Rule Type and click the Next button.
- Click on the “Block the connection” option in the Action window and then click on the “Next” button.
- If you want to apply your rule to each of the three different types of profiles, you will need to tick the boxes in the Profile window, and to continue, click the Next button.
- As part of the next step, you will have to decide on the name of your new rule.
- In order to save the settings, click “Finish” when you are done.
- That’s it, now you are done.
Conclusion
In summary, I would like to express my appreciation for reading this article, and I hope you both found it informative as well as helpful. In case you have any feedback or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the comments section below.