How to enable the Firewall (Windows / MacOS)

Owned by Jameson Schildroth, created
Last updated: Jul 10, 2024
3 min read

The firewall helps protect the device by monitoring incomming and outgoing network traffic. Firewalls serve as a first line of defense in network security, establishing a barrier between trusted internal networks and untrusted external networks, such as the Internet. Newer devices tend to come with the firewall turned off. To ensure the firewall is on so it can do its work follow the following steps below.

Steps for Mac OS

Steps for Microsoft Windows

 Instructions

Mac OS

  1. Open Settings by either:

    1. clicking the Apple Logo in the top left-hand corner of the screen
      or

    2. Opening Finder, going to Applications and finding Settings.

  2. In Settings, click Network on the left-hand bar. In the Network settings you will see the Firewall Icon, click on the arrow button beside Firewall.

    image-20240610-194324.png

     

    1. If toggle is turned on and not greyed out, there no need to go further as the Firewall is already turned on and functioning.

      image-20240610-195703.png

    2. If the toggle is greyed out, toggle the Firewall on by clicking on the toggle switch beside Firewall.

Windows 10/11

  1. Click on Start > Settings.

  2. Click on Privacy & Security.

  3. Click on Windows Security.

  4. In Windows Security, click on Open Windows Security.

  5. Click on the Firewall & network protection tile.

  6. Here you will see the three network profiles (Domain, Private, Public).

    1. If the Firewalls is listed On for all the profiles, then the Firewall is already turned on and no further action is required.

    2. If the Firewall is listed Off for any of the profiles continue below.

  7. Click on the Network profile name for the Firewall that is turned off.

  8. Locate the Microsoft Defender Firewall section and toggle the switch to the On position.

  9. Once you toggle the Firewall to On, an UAC (User Account Control) prompt will appear. If you are a local administrator, click on Yes to proceed with the change. If you are not a local administrator, contact the Arts Computing Office for assistance.

     



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