Advanced Settings and Troubleshooting Tips

Comodo Firewall Pro offers an extensive control panel with numerous customisable features and options. This section covers options directly related to getting the firewall up and running, as well as some quick tips for troubleshooting.

Tip: Click: to access extensive documentation about Comodo Firewall Pro.

3.1 How to View the Summary screen

Step 1. Select: Start > Programs > Comodo > Firewall > Comodo Firewall Pro to activate its main screen as follows:

Figure 9: The Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in Summary view

The Summary view displays the general information about Comodo Firewall Pro. It shows which program features are running, the network settings, traffic informati Comodo Firewall Pro offers an extensive control panel with numerous customisable features and options. This section covers options directly related to getting the firewall up and running, as well as some quick tips for troubleshooting.

Tip: Click: to access extensive documentation about Comodo Firewall Pro.

3.1 How to View the Summary screen

Step 1. Select: Start > Programs > Comodo > Firewall > Comodo Firewall Pro to activate its main screen as follows:

Figure 9: The Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in Summary view

The Summary view displays the general information about Comodo Firewall Pro. It shows which program features are running, the network settings, traffic information and the Computer Security Level, and other kinds of information.

Important: The Computer Security Level is set at Custom by default. This mode lets you apply your configuration settings and different access permissions for all new programs.

Troubleshooting Tip: If you have installed Comodo Firewall Pro, and find that you have suddenly lost Internet access or any network connection, drag the Computer Security Level lever to the Allow All setting. This will make the firewall inactive, and all previous connections should be restored. However, the Allow All setting is only used to test access to services. Do not leave this setting on after you have regained all your network connections and Internet access!

3.2 How to Set Access Rules

This section will help you to learn more about setting access rules and permissions in Comodo Firewall Pro. Step 1. Click: to activate the Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in Security mode as follows:

Figure 10: The Comodo Firewall Pro in Security mode. To stop receiving any firewall access messages for a particular program by granting it full access rights:

Step 2. Click the Define a new Trusted Application option to activate the following screen:

Figure 11: The Trusted Application confirmation screen

Step 3. Click: to choose the application (and its path) that you want to set as a trusted application.

In the example above, the Firefox.exe file is selected. This means the firewall will now allow all requests for Firefox to access your computer and the Internet.

Note: However, this does not mean that Comodo Firewall Pro will allow just any program to access the Internet through Firefox. You will have to configure them on an individual, per program basis.

Step 4. Click:

To view all programs with existing permission rules:

Step 5. Click: to activate the following screen:

Figure 12: The Comodo Firewall Pro in Application Monitor mode screen

The Application Monitor screen displays access permissions you have previously defined for different programs. Each instance relates to a process within a particular program that requires access to your incoming or outgoing Internet connection.

To manage your program access perform the following steps:

Step 1. Double-click on any of the listed processes to activate a screen displaying its permissions.

Step 2. Click the Add, Edit or Remove buttons in the top right-hand corner of the Application Control Rules pane to respectively add, edit or remove program access permissions.

Step 3. Click: to locate the file path of the executable program and then add it to this list.

Figure 13: The Application Control Rule screen

3.3 How to Set Access Rules (Advanced Users Only)

This section is intended for advanced users. It lets you refine your firewall permission settings, by letting you specify IP address, direction of connection and other options.

In the previous example, all activities for Firefox are allowed. However, to set more specific control rules, perform the following step:

Step 1. Check the Apply the following criteria option beneath the Application / Parent Application section as follows:

Figure 14: The Application Control Rule screen

Step 2. Select an access permission from the Action drop-down list.

Step 3. Select a protocol type from the Protocol drop-down list.

Step 4. Select a connection direction from the Direction drop-down list.

3.4 How to Add Permissions for Your Office Network

By default, Comodo Firewall Pro automatically blocks access to your computer from the office network. It may also block any requests your computer sends out to the network. This could result in loss of network services, such as Internet access, printing, document sharing, and other services. You must configure Comodo Firewall so that it will detect that you are working in a network environment, and to permit you to access that network.

Important: Before setting up special requirements for the office network, make sure you are connected to it!

Step 1. Click: in the Comodo Firewall Pro screen.

Step 2. Click: to activate the Trusted Network Zone Wizard to configure particular settings for your network.

The Trusted Network Zone Wizard is comprised of four screens, and they resemble Figure 15 and Figure 16.

Figure 15: The Trusted Network Zone Wizard Welcome screen

Step 3. Click:

Figure 16: The Trusted Network Zone Wizard screen for selecting a Zone

Step 4. Select the network connection for your office. Usually, this is your LAN/Ethernet card.

Step 5. Click:

Comodo Firewall Pro will automatically detect the network settings and create special permissions for it.

Step 6. Click:

Step 7. Click: to verify these and other special permission settings.

Figure 17: The Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in Network Monitor mode

To specify that you want the firewall to permit access to another particular network resource (another printer or router) or to a computer outside your network, then on the above screen:

Step 8. Click: to activate the Network Control Rule screen as follows:

Figure 18: The Network Control Rule screen

In this screen, you can set exceptions for Comodo Firewall Pro so that you can access different network resources (a printer or router, for instance), or a computer outside your network.

The example above gives the computer or device operating under the address of 192.168.234.234 access to your computer.

Step 9. Click:

Important: Consult your network administrator to find out about other necessary permissions for your firewall.

3.5 How to View the Activity Log

Comodo Firewall Pro maintains a log of all inbound and outbound activity for the last 30 days. This can help you detect both malware that is trying to connect to the network from your computer and intruders who are attempting to gain access to your computer.

Step 1. Click: and to view the logs as follows:

Figure 19: The Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in the Logs view

Here you can view all inbound and outbound access reports collected by Comodo Firewall Pro, including the time of occurrence as well as the destination and source IP of the event. You can also set the maximum size for the collected log (as it can quickly get quite large).

Programs on your computer are consistently trying to contact an Internet site; this does not mean they are malicious: many such programs were simply written that way. Comodo Firewall Pro will eventually stop these unnecessary attempts. Do not be too alarmed by the number of events that appear in the logs!

Warning! Many computers are constantly trying to gain access to your computer through the Internet; this does not always mean that a dedicated hacker is trying to access your computer. However, it could be the result of malicious software designed to detect the few computers that are still vulnerable. If that software detects that a computer does not have a functioning firewall, it may plant a virus, trojan or some other malware on it. Such software is regularly used by Internet hackers.on and the Computer Security Level, and other kinds of information.

Important: The Computer Security Level is set at Custom by default. This mode lets you apply your configuration settings and different access permissions for all new programs.

Troubleshooting Tip: If you have installed Comodo Firewall Pro, and find that you have suddenly lost Internet access or any network connection, drag the Computer Security Level lever to the Allow All setting. This will make the firewall inactive, and all previous connections should be restored. However, the Allow All setting is only used to test access to services. Do not leave this setting on after you have regained all your network connections and Internet access!

3.2 How to Set Access Rules

This section will help you to learn more about setting access rules and permissions in Comodo Firewall Pro. Step 1. Click: to activate the Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in Security mode as follows:

Figure 10: The Comodo Firewall Pro in Security mode. To stop receiving any firewall access messages for a particular program by granting it full access rights:

Step 2. Click the Define a new Trusted Application option to activate the following screen:

Figure 11: The Trusted Application confirmation screen

Step 3. Click: to choose the application (and its path) that you want to set as a trusted application.

In the example above, the Firefox.exe file is selected. This means the firewall will now allow all requests for Firefox to access your computer and the Internet.

Note: However, this does not mean that Comodo Firewall Pro will allow just any program to access the Internet through Firefox. You will have to configure them on an individual, per program basis.

Step 4. Click:

To view all programs with existing permission rules:

Step 5. Click: to activate the following screen:

Figure 12: The Comodo Firewall Pro in Application Monitor mode screen

The Application Monitor screen displays access permissions you have previously defined for different programs. Each instance relates to a process within a particular program that requires access to your incoming or outgoing Internet connection.

To manage your program access perform the following steps:

Step 1. Double-click on any of the listed processes to activate a screen displaying its permissions.

Step 2. Click the Add, Edit or Remove buttons in the top right-hand corner of the Application Control Rules pane to respectively add, edit or remove program access permissions.

Step 3. Click: to locate the file path of the executable program and then add it to this list.

*Figure 13: The Application Control Rule screen

3.3 How to Set Access Rules (Advanced Users Only)

This section is intended for advanced users. It lets you refine your firewall permission settings, by letting you specify IP address, direction of connection and other options.

In the previous example, all activities for Firefox are allowed. However, to set more specific control rules, perform the following step:

Step 1. Check the Apply the following criteria option beneath the Application / Parent Application section as follows:

Figure 14: The Application Control Rule screen

Step 2. Select an access permission from the Action drop-down list.

Step 3. Select a protocol type from the Protocol drop-down list.

Step 4. Select a connection direction from the Direction drop-down list.

3.4 How to Add Permissions for Your Office Network

By default, Comodo Firewall Pro automatically blocks access to your computer from the office network. It may also block any requests your computer sends out to the network. This could result in loss of network services, such as Internet access, printing, document sharing, and other services. You must configure Comodo Firewall so that it will detect that you are working in a network environment, and to permit you to access that network.

Important: Before setting up special requirements for the office network, make sure you are connected to it!

Step 1. Click: in the Comodo Firewall Pro screen.

Step 2. Click: to activate the Trusted Network Zone Wizard to configure particular settings for your network.

The Trusted Network Zone Wizard is comprised of four screens, and they resemble Figure 15 and Figure 16.

Figure 15: The Trusted Network Zone Wizard Welcome screen

Step 3. Click:

Figure 16: The Trusted Network Zone Wizard screen for selecting a Zone

Step 4. Select the network connection for your office. Usually, this is your LAN/Ethernet card.

Step 5. Click:

Comodo Firewall Pro will automatically detect the network settings and create special permissions for it.

Step 6. Click:

Step 7. Click: to verify these and other special permission settings.

Figure 17: The Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in Network Monitor mode

To specify that you want the firewall to permit access to another particular network resource (another printer or router) or to a computer outside your network, then on the above screen:

Step 8. Click: to activate the Network Control Rule screen as follows:

Figure 18: The Network Control Rule screen

In this screen, you can set exceptions for Comodo Firewall Pro so that you can access different network resources (a printer or router, for instance), or a computer outside your network.

The example above gives the computer or device operating under the address of 192.168.234.234 access to your computer.

Step 9. Click:

Important: Consult your network administrator to find out about other necessary permissions for your firewall.

3.5 How to View the Activity Log

Comodo Firewall Pro maintains a log of all inbound and outbound activity for the last 30 days. This can help you detect both malware that is trying to connect to the network from your computer and intruders who are attempting to gain access to your computer.

Step 1. Click: and to view the logs as follows:

Figure 19: The Comodo Firewall Pro main screen in the Logs view

Here you can view all inbound and outbound access reports collected by Comodo Firewall Pro, including the time of occurrence as well as the destination and source IP of the event. You can also set the maximum size for the collected log (as it can quickly get quite large).

Programs on your computer are consistently trying to contact an Internet site; this does not mean they are malicious: many such programs were simply written that way. Comodo Firewall Pro will eventually stop these unnecessary attempts. Do not be too alarmed by the number of events that appear in the logs!

Warning! Many computers are constantly trying to gain access to your computer through the Internet; this does not always mean that a dedicated hacker is trying to access your computer. However, it could be the result of malicious software designed to detect the few computers that are still vulnerable. If that software detects that a computer does not have a functioning firewall, it may plant a virus, trojan or some other malware on it. Such software is regularly used by Internet hackers.