Configuring general settings of the Firewall Management task

Some settings of firewall rules for inbound and outbound connections may be unavailable if the Application Console is connected to the local host (on which it is started) and the settings are not supported by the host operating system.

To configure the general settings of the Firewall Management task using the Application Console:

1. In the Application Console tree, expand the Computer Control node.
2. Select the Firewall Management child node.
3. Click the Parameters link in the details pane of the Firewall Management node.

   The Task settings window appears.

4. On the General tab, in the Network traffic filtering block, select the option for interaction between Kaspersky Embedded Systems Security for Windows and Windows Firewall:
   • Observe the state of Windows Firewall. If this option is selected, the application only monitors the status of Windows Firewall and sends a warning event to Kaspersky Security Center if Windows Firewall is not started.

     If this option is selected to replace the Control the operation of Windows Firewall option, the application restores the internal settings of Windows Firewall the next time the operating system of the protected device is started.

   • Control the operation of Windows Firewall. If this option is selected, the application monitors Windows Firewall to the extent determined by the following settings:
     • Maintain the state of Windows Firewall.
       

       This feature enables or disables keeping Windows Firewall in the Enabled / Disabled state using the drop-down list.

       If the function is enabled, the application performs the following actions:

       • Polls Windows Firewall at an interval of one minute.
       • Reads the status of Windows Firewall.
       • When the status is set to Enabled, enables Windows Firewall if it is disabled.
       • When the status is Disabled, disables Windows Firewall when it is enabled.

       This feature cannot be disabled if the Manage settings and rules of Windows Firewall feature is disabled.

       By default, the feature is enabled and Enabled is selected.

     • Manage settings and rules of Windows Firewall.
       

       This feature enables or disables management of Windows Firewall settings and rules.

       If the function is enabled, the application performs the following actions:

       • Polls Windows Firewall at an interval of one minute.
       • Reads and copies Windows Firewall settings, including firewall rules.
       • Sets the values of Windows Firewall settings to match the Firewall Management task settings.
       • Creates a list of Kaspersky Security Group firewall rules in the Windows Firewall snap-in. This set contains all firewall rules of the Firewall Management task.

         Later, when polling Windows Firewall, the application does not synchronize the list of Kaspersky Security Group firewall rules with the list of rules of the Firewall Management task. To synchronize the lists of firewall rules, you must restart the Firewall Management task.

       • Restricts the ability to edit Windows Firewall settings and rules using third-party tools or directly in the snap-in (wf.msc). If Windows Firewall settings or rules are changed, within one minute the application rolls back the changes to the settings values defined using the Firewall Management task.

       If the function is disabled, the application restores the Windows Firewall settings and rules to the values that the application saved after the first poll of Windows Firewall and no longer manages the Windows Firewall settings and rules.

       This feature cannot be disabled if the Maintain the state of Windows Firewall feature is disabled.

       This feature is enabled by default.

     • Allow ICMP connections.
       

       The function allows or blocks incoming and outgoing network connections via the ICMPv4 and ICMPv6 protocols.

       If this function is enabled, Windows Firewall allows incoming and outgoing network connections via the ICMPv4 and ICMPv6 protocols, regardless of the task settings for incoming and outgoing connections.

       On operating systems below Windows 7, Windows Firewall allows only incoming network connections via the ICMPv4 and ICMPv6 protocols.

       This function is disabled by default.

5. In the The program controls the operation of Windows Firewall according to the settings below block, configure the following settings:
   • Use the Action for inbound connections drop-down list to specify the action that Windows Firewall performs for all incoming network connections, unless otherwise defined in the Firewall rules for incoming connections.
   • If necessary, add Firewall rules for incoming connections.

     Firewall rules for incoming connections perform the role of exclusions. For example, if you configure an allowing rule for incoming network connections, and you select Block in the Action for inbound connections drop-down list, Windows Firewall allows incoming network connections that match the rule criteria.

   • Use the Action for outbound connections drop-down list to specify the action that Windows Firewall performs for all outgoing network connections, unless otherwise defined in the Firewall rules for outgoing connections.
   • If necessary, add Firewall rules for outgoing connections.

     Firewall rules for outgoing connections perform the role of exclusions. For example, if you configure a blocking rule for outgoing network connections, and select Allow in the Action for outbound connections drop-down list, Windows Firewall blocks outgoing network connections that match the rule criteria.

6. Click the OK button to save the changes.

Kaspersky Embedded Systems Security for Windows applies the new settings to the running task. The date and time when the settings were changed are saved in the system audit log.