Using the Menus and the Toolbar

The top of the Personal Firewall screen displays a standard menu with the following options: File, Security, Tools, View, and Help.

Firewall Menus

Menu

Menu choices

File

  • CloseCloses the Personal Firewall main console.

  • Exit Personal FirewallDisables the Personal Firewall, effectively turning off security on your machine.

Security

  • Block AllBlocks all network traffic on your machine.

  • NormalBlocks only selective traffic. This is the default configuration, and is a prudent choice.

  • Allow AllPermits all network traffic to flow on your machine. This is almost as non-secure as exiting the Personal Firewall, and is not recommended. It should be used for troubleshooting only.

Tools

  • ApplicationsOpens the Applications List.

  • LogsOpens the Logs.

  • OptionsOpens the Options dialog box, which contains many security options, including email alerts, Network Neighborhood browsing rights, and log file configuration.

  • Advanced RulesOpens the Advanced Rules dialog box, where you can set very specific rules for the implementation of security on your Personal Firewall.

  • Update SignatureUpdates intrusion prevention signatures.
    Option Alert: This option may appear dimmed or not at all. For further information, see "Some Options May Not Show."

  • Automatically Start ServiceThis toggle setting sets whether the Personal Firewall will be launched automatically when your machine is booted.
    Option Alert: This option may appear dimmed or not at all. For further information, see "Some Options May Not Show."

  • Hide System Tray IconThis toggle setting hides the System Tray Icon from view. If it is checked, the icon is hidden.

  • Test Your FirewallOpens the Sygate Technologies scan site, allowing you to test the effectiveness of the Personal Firewall.

View

The View menu gives users the option to alter the display of software programs in the "Running Applications" field:

  • Large IconsDisplays 32x32 icons in the field. Each icon represents a software application or a system service.

  • Small IconsDisplays 16x16 icons.

Both the large and small icon displays provide the full name of the application below the icon itself, and the icons are displayed in a “corkboard” fashion.

  • ListProvides small icon representations, with the icons displayed in a standard list.

  • Applications DetailsProvides not only a list of all running applications, but also useful information on the version number and location path of each application.

  • Connection DetailsProvides further information on the type of connection being made by an each application accessing the network adapter, as well as the protocol, local and remote ports and IP addresses being used, the application path, and more.

  • Hide Windows ServicesToggles the display of Windows Services in the "Running Applications" field.

  • Hide Broadcast TrafficToggles the display of broadcast traffic in the "Running Applications" field.

Help

  • Managed Personal FirewallLinks to the Sygate Technologies Web site to show the corporate version of the Firewall, Sygate Security Agent.

  • Easy Internet SharingLinks to the Sygate Technologies Web site to show Sygate's Home Networking product line

  • Upgrade to Sygate Personal Firewall ProLinks to the Sygate Technologies Web site, where you can download the upgrade to the more powerful version of Sygate Personal Firewall

  • Register...Brings up a registration screen so that you can register your copy of the Firewall

  • Help Topics...Opens the Personal Firewall online help files.

  • AboutOpens the About screen.

Toolbar Buttons

The buttons located below the menu provide shortcuts that can be used to quickly block all applications, change your application profiles, access the logs, test your Personal Firewall using the Sygate Technologies Web site, or view the Help file.