Okay, I been browsing the forums from here and some others and I am confused as to the REAL answer. But I bet someone will answer with "All depends on what you call REAL"

So here is the question:

Is it really safe to turn off the software firewall while gaming online? (Not browser base games).


I ask this because I am playing a game that allows P2P and my logs show that the firewall is blocking everything--including the login request--yet, I can play..lol. But no custom data I have made is being transmitted over p2p.

Have you tried making that particular program an exception in the firewall?

Also most Software firewall's now a days have what is called gaming mode. Where it will block all internet activity exept the game you are playing online

Hengis,
I've tried everything (that I know of). Still blocking so the log says.

ASA_Sniper,
This one mentions something about that but it was part of Parental Control. Wish I did not buy.

Of course I am talking about Norton Internet Security.

Here is what I do know. NIS has a 3 teir rule layout. The 1st is General Rules, then Program Rules and lastly Secondary Rules.

As far as I can tell both the General and Secondary rules apply to ALL programs and changing one of them will affect all programs that access the internet. The Program rule applies only to that one program.

That is where the program lies I think. No matter what Program rule I set up the General Rules override it. From what I have read in the NIS help file that is how it works.

So, I tried the game without the Firewall and played for a few minutes. Exit the game and scan the logs and guess what, still blocking even with the firewall turned off. How I dunno. I am not even sure if it is blocking incoming or outgoing data.

Boy am I feeling dumb. Life was so much easier before all this stuff came along--(meaning Spyware, Virus, Firewalls...etc.)

What game are we talking about here?

Trackmanina Nations