Windows 10: Windows Defender Firewall is using settings that make the device unsafe

Hi everyone
My have a few machines where they are showing "Windows Defender Firewall is using settings that make the device unsafe" message when viewing "firewall and network protection and when i try to click restore settings nothing happens picture shown before


:)

 

Windows Defender Firewall alarm notification

Note: below is a Windows Defender FIREWALL question - I couldn't locate a category specifically for "firewall".

We have recently set (what seemed to be) common sense firewall settings via GPO, in a domain environment. They are as follows:

Domain:

Firewall On (Green shield shows on managed workstations)

Inbound connections that do not match a rule are allowed. (Green shield shows on managed workstations)

Outbound connections that do not match a rule are allowed. (Green shield shows on managed workstations)

Private (for when users are at home, possibly?):

Firewall is on. (Green shield shows on managed workstations)

Inbound connections that do not match a rule are blocked. (this was listed as 'default' in GPMC) (Red 'block' symbol now appears on managed workstations)

Outbound connections that do not match a rule are allowed. (Green shield shows on managed workstations)

Public:

Firewall On (Green shield shows on managed workstations)

Inbound connections that do not match a rule are blocked. (this was listed as 'default' in GPMC) (Red 'block' symbol now appears on managed workstations)

Outbound connections that do not match a rule are allowed. (Green shield shows on managed workstations)

Users are being presented with the Defender 'alarm' icon in the taskbar, and in 'Firewall and Network Protection' a message appears that "Windows Defender Firewall is using settings that may make your device unsafe. By process of elimination, I have determined
that the 'Inbound connections' settins in the Private and Public profiles are causing this message to appear.

Two questions:

1) is this not the recommended (hence the 'default' indication in GPMC for these firewall profiles? I'd think you would want to block unsolicited inbound connections for applications for which you haven't explicitly allowed in untrusted environments?

2) If the answer to question #1 is "yes", is there a way to suppress this warning? Users will surely react to the indication that their device may be 'unsafe'.

thanks,

Andrew

**Moved from Virus and Malware / Windows Defender / Scanning, Detecting, and Removing Threats / Windows 10**

 

Cannot Turn on Windows Defender Firewall

Happy New Year,

Re: Windows Defender Firewall, Windows 10, Dell Desktop

This evening I noticed the Windows Defender icon had a red X. I tried to open the Security Dashboard but nothing happened. I then opened Windows Security but it was completely blank. Firewall & Network Protection indicates: "Windows Defender Firewall
is using settings that may make your device unsafe." Domain, Private and Public network firewall settings were all off but with green check marks. I clicked Restore Settings only to have it run on and on and on...until I finally closed it down.

I tried several suggestions found in this community such as: checking Services to ensure the Firewall and Baseline settings were started and on Automatic; restoring to an earlier point and accessing the Firewall through the Control Panel but to no avail.
Each time I clicked on the Firewall in the Control Panel, the blue circle would twirl and twirl until the panel grayed out and finally closed.

Needless to say not having a Firewall concerns me but I am afraid I will cause more damage if I install another security app. One last thought, the automatic scans which runs daily by Windows Defender and Malwarebytes found nothing unusual.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

 

windows defender firewall

Hi Faye,

Third-party antivirus programs usually have their own uninstallers provided by the software developer. We suggest checking the developer's website or contacting their support team for assistance with uninstalling their program. After fully uninstalling the
third-party antivirus software, you may turn on Windows Defender by following these steps:

• Click Start.
• Type Windows Defender Security Center and press Enter.
• Click Firewall and network protection.
• Click Private (discoverable) network and click On.
• Click Public (non-discoverable) network and click On.

Let us know if you have any other concerns about Windows Defender.