Create rule sets |
  
|
Create rule sets |
|
You can allocate every network its own rule set (i.e. a collection of rules specially matched to it). In this manner you can protect networks with different levels of danger in different ways using the firewall. For example, a home network surely requires considerably less protection (and consequently less administrative effort) than a data transmission network directly connected to the Internet.
The firewall contains three default rulesets for the following network types:
•Rule set for an untrustworthy network: This generally covers open networks (e.g. data transmission networks) with Internet access.
•Rule set for a trustworthy network: Home and company networks are generally trustworthy.
•Rule set for a network to be blocked: This setting can be used if the computer's access to a network is to be blocked on a temporary or permanent basis. This is advisable, for instance, when you are connected to unfamiliar networks with an indeterminate level of security (e.g. LAN parties, external corporate networks, public workspaces for laptops etc).
Newly established networks on your computer can be assigned an appropriate rule set. Furthermore, you can also create individual rule sets for networks by clicking the New button. To do this, click the New button in the Rule sets area and enter the following details in the dialogue window:
•Rule set name: Enter a meaningful name for the rule set here.
•Generate an empty rule set: This allows you to generate an empty rule set and enter custom-defined rules.
•Generate a rule set which contains a number of meaningful rules: This option allows you to specify if you want the new rule set to include a few basic default rules for untrustworthy, trustworthy networks or for networks to be blocked. You can then make individual adjustments based on these defaults.
The new rule set now appears in the list in the Rule sets area under the relevant rule set name (e.g. New rule set). If you then click on Edit - depending on the setting you made under Miscellaneous (see the section with the same name) - the Rule wizard or theadvanced editing mode for editing the individual rules of this rules set will open. You can learn how to assign new rules in the rule sets in the sections entitled Using the Rule wizard and Using the advanced editing mode.
In addition to directly entering rules yourself, you can also create rules via the firewall alarm info box. This learning process of the firewall is explained in the section entitled Firewall alarm .