Windows firewall seems to have turned on by itself

[ik9000]

If I'm running an internet security suite should windows firewall be running? I thought it was off but all of a sudden since installing a printer it seems to be active... Should i turn it off?

[peterb]

If it isn't causing problems, I think I'd leave it on. Depends on the capability of the other suite you are running. It will question an unknown or unexpected request for an outbound connection which can thwart some types of malware. If you are running behind a NAT firewall on the gateway device, that will off a good measure of protection against inbound malware (assuming you have no ports opened by default) so your main source of risk is email attached malware and dodgy websites.

[ik9000]

well the only reason I realised it was on was when the printer install asked whether to let windows firewall allow unfettered access to the printer. I think I said no, can't recall.

It prints fine over wifi, but scanner and PC won't talk to each other. Tried it with the windows firewall on and off - it makes no difference, so don't think it's the firewall. The other firewall has everything auto-set to allow so don't think its causing problems. So either it's rubbish software from Epson, or I need to invest in a very long USB cable

[peterb]

Is it an integrated scanner/printer? Which model? Gonz0 is our Epson expert!

[ik9000]

WF7525 all in one A3 - I'm at risk of having double threads here, maybe we can merge them http://forums.hexus.net/consumer-ele...r-all-one.html

[=assassin=]

I leave Windows Firewall on with ZoneAlarm all the time anyway, and I was glad so when ZoneAlarm crashed on me once.

[peterb]

WF7525 all in one A3 - I'm at risk of having double threads here, maybe we can merge them http://forums.hexus.net/consumer-ele...r-all-one.html

Well, I can merge them, but the posts just appear in chronological order, which might make the themes hard to follow! Why not start another thread on the specific issue?