hi every 1 ive just now upgraded from avast to the internet security suite latest version on windows 7. and was wondering when i install it do i change the firewall settings or leave everything at default. by far avast is the best av ive ever used. thx 4 any help given every 1.
I have AIS on my windows 7 and as far as I am concerned the firewall is to use a term fire and forget
Install it, answer a few questions at the begining and then forget it
I see no reason for not using the defaults for the firewall 
Welcome to AIS users team!
I pretty much left the default settings except for a couple of items for Work networks:
- Under Packet Rules I got rid of allowing Microsoft Networking (ports 135-139) and things like VPNs that I don’t use
- Under Friends I got rid of all the networks except 127.0.0.0-just because a computer is on my LAN doesn’t mean I want to trust it
You can probably accomplish pretty much the same thing by making the network Public, but I haven’t explored it all yet.
thx every 1 for that
My grain of salt: on the packet rules I disable Windows Networking, Ping and Tracert (you don’t want people doing that to you) 
I set the firewall to ask because automatic is too broad for me.
Also check the Microsoft application rules, the firewall gives full access to WMPnetwork.exe which is a security risk it should be friends in, Internet out not all because otherwise it will leave port 554 open.
Martin.-
master tb i know i said this thread was resolved but i just seen ur post now and ive gone into the settings on avast that friends thing looks a bit complex in there i think ill leave the avast firewall setting at default i hope it will be ok
It will be OK, I just prefer a little more control over network communications, that’s all, and setting the firewall to ask gives me just that.
Martin.-